We live in a world that is constantly changing, where everyone is looking to create the latest and greatest. This is really exemplified in the realm of technology, and sports are no different.
It seems that ever since the iPhone came out, companies have been trying to beat each other to create the next big thing — whether it is how we check the score, how we watch matches or even how we play the game. Most, if not all, of these technological advances have been an improvement for sports.
A couple of these innovations have revolutionized the way that people watch games from their homes. This past year, CBS began using two robotic cameras while filming NCAA South Eastern Conference games. During the SEC games, CBS placed one of the cameras on each goal line in an attempt to always have a parallel view on the players crossing the goal line. This gave fans a new viewing angle, and it provided the referees a better chance to determine if the ball crossed the line or not. Let’s face it. The refs need all the help they can get anyway.
The biggest innovation that has been introduced to the wide world of sports is the widespread use of high definition 3D TVs. Just in case the 1080p clarity was not realistic enough, manufacturers such as Panasonic, Sony and LG have created a massive industry of TVs that really bring the game to life.
While those companies may have led the industry in TVs, ESPN has cleared the path for the production of games in three dimensions. If you have not seen a football or basketball game in 3D, I suggest you stop by your local Best Buy and give a TV a test drive.
Now what has to be the coolest piece of sports technology that I have seen so far is a product that is still in testing and has not even hit the market yet. Instead of increasing fans’ viewing pleasure, this latest gadget is designed to help keep players safe, without making absurd changes to the game.
Sporting goods company Reebok has teamed up with flexible electronics manufacturer mc10 to create a concussion-detecting skullcap. The new skullcap is designed with sensors along the sides of the head that analyze each impact on the player’s head. On the back side of the skullcap is a display panel that contains light indicators; one flashes yellow for moderate impacts and another flashes red for heavy collisions. This takes the human element out of concussions, since other players and refs will know when a player needs to come off and get evaluated.
While it may be scary that players can now have a skullcap diagnose them medically, I think it is a very good invention that hopefully will be used when possible. The part that I like the most about the skullcap is that the companies have stated that it will not just be a tool used by the pros; it will be affordable enough for youth players to utilize the benefits Reebok and mc10 have to offer.
Whether it is how we watch or how we play the game, there is only one thing that is certain. Nothing stays the same.
