Sport is constantly evolving thanks to digital technology. It’s an obvious point to make as most of us realize this intuitively. However, can you point to some examples of technology in sports? Moreover, do you know the impact this technology has had?
We can point to a few examples. Naturally, we can’t cover every technological innovation in sport, but we have picked out some interesting ones and offered our take on why they’ve been significant.
Three Innovations that Have Shaped Sport in Recent Times
Live Streaming
TV used to be the only way fans could watch live events from a distance. Today, all you need is an app. Social media platforms such as YouTube offer live streams, but the main purveyors of video content are online sportsbooks. For example, if you’re a horse racing fan and want to place bets for Cheltenham online. You take the odds on one of the special markets, such as three+ winning starting price favorites (5/4), and you lock in a wager.
At this point you’re waiting for the result, so you check the latest Gold Cup odds. You like the look of A Plus Tard at 6/1 so you place another bet. Again, you’re in a position where the results aren’t in but you’re still using the app. This is where live streams come in. Placing bets on certain races allows you to watch them in real-time.
Doing this means you’re not just waiting around for a result to flash on the screen; You get to watch the action. This is entertaining for two reasons: 1) you’ve got a bet on the race 2) you probably like the sport so you find it interesting. Therefore, what you get with live streams is more entertainment.
Drones and Eyes in the Sky
Another innovation that’s brought a new angle to sports entertainment is drone technology. Getting a bird’s eye view of sporting events isn’t new. Broadcasters have been beaming video shots from helicopters and, more recently, cameras on wires strung across the top of stadiums. However, thanks to drones, broadcasters can get more aerial footage (because helicopters can’t stay active for very long).
They can also swoop down into different viewpoints to broadcast all manner of creative shots. The new angles that make sports broadcasts more entertaining can also give coaches a better perspective on their athletes, how certain plays are working, and more.
Smart Sensors
Smart technology is making it easier for umpires to make better decisions. Is it perfect? No. However, there’s no harm in leaning on sensors and trackers every once in a while. Soccer fans will be aware of goal-line technology, just as tennis fans who watch Wimbledon will have heard about Hawk-Eye and its ability to call shots in or out. Joining these innovations in recent years are trackers in cricket.
Smart bails, such as those by Zing Bails, work in unison with cricket balls containing microchips. This makes the bails light up in less than 1/1000th of a second, which is great for determining whether a player is in or out. These sensors work in tandem with edge detectors, such as UltraEdge, which can tell if someone hit the ball or not.
The Future of Sport in Tech
We’ve picked out three innovations and explained how they’ve changed the game. The truth is that these are just the latest offerings. They’re all impressive but, in ten years, they’ll be old news because more innovations are coming. That’s great news for sports fans because it means more entertainment, better athletes, new angles, and much more.
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