Overview: –

• Today’s Technology extends over a lot of different components that we are exposed to daily. Technology has affected sports; the use of technology is just one of those areas that have made an impact on many sports in the modern day. These improvements are more beneficial not just for the fan experience but for the players too.
• A significant amount of technology is becoming portable and wireless and data is now often being made available in real time for coaches, trainers, and sports scientists. This has supported the transition of technology from laboratory settings to practice fields, courts, and in some cases in official sports competitions.
• The use of technology in contact sports has grown a lot within performance enhancement, injury prevention, injury recovery and athletes’ health maintenance. The use of advanced high speed and high-definition cameras, along with the development of biomechanical software has allowed teams to have an in-depth view of athletes’ movements. This detailed view may assist coaches to better understand a hockey athlete’s kinetic link (chain of muscular, joints and body events) during a slap-shot, or a rugby player’s penalty kick, or a soccer player’s corner kick; this information is then used to improve speed, accuracy, but also to analyze possible indicators, like the imbalance of movement which may cause injury.

 

Evolution of Technology in Sports: –

Technology has improved the accuracy, enjoyment and experiences of both athletes and spectators at sporting events.

Tracking Race Times

1964

Seiko launches its new electronic automated timing system with a photo-finish mechanism, improving accuracy to 1/100th of a second.

1980s

Transponder or RFID timing is designed using radio frequency via a chip placed on the athlete to record times at antenna points.

 

2008

Photo finish equipment captures 3,000 photos per second to track winners in races.

 

 

Clothing

1950s onwards

Lighter and flatter track shoes are designed to find the perfect balance of optimal grip and comfort.

 

2012

Athletic apparel starts to measure heart rate, respiratory activity, posture, speed and weight distribution.

 

2016

New clothing is being designed to wick sweat away from the body by evaporation instead of absorbing it.

 

Neuroscience

2017

The Halo headband was first released to the public. The technology prepares the brains of athletes for training and a big race by delivering pulses that help neurons fire together.

 

2019

The Halo 2 is released. Putting the headband on 20 minutes before a race can improve the brain’s ability to make new circuits, making athletes perform better and faster.

 

 

Some of the key technological advancements that have been observed for athletes and spectators include improved:

 

 

 

Impact Of Sports Technologies

 

Enhanced Athlete Training and Conditioning

 

• To stay on top of their game, athletes require more than physical training. Thanks to technology, the modern athlete can access enhanced training facilities and gym equipment.

 

• Also, technologies such as Artificial Intelligence have enabled trainers to focus on more personalized training routines. Every athlete is different and has unique needs. Fitness coaches can use wearable devices to monitor the athletes’ heart rate, body temperature, hydration levels, and brain activity. With this information, an athlete will know when to take a break and when to push harder.

 

• Nutrition is a significant aspect of an athlete’s conditioning. With the help of technologies like AI, nutritionists can develop customized diet plans for athletes based on their body type, weight, and other physical conditions.

 

Promotes Fair Game

 

• The referees and umpires have also greatly benefited from technology. Before technological interventions, referees were blamed for favoring one team over the other because of a bad call.

 

• The introduction of instant replays helped referees have a closer look at any occurrence before making a decision. The Video Assistant Referee has been on the headlines recently. The technology was introduced in soccer to enable referees to make more accurate decisions.

 

• Despite having some controversies, the VAR allows the match referee to have a second look at the events to make the most accurate call. It usually helps in awarding penalties, red cards, and deciding whether a player was off-side. Lest we forget, the referees are only human and are bound to make mistakes.

 

• In tennis, technologies like the hawk-eye and instant replays have helped eliminate human error. Accurate decisions have ensured that there is fair play from the beginning to the end.

 

Digital Media

 

• The digital media technological advancements have also had a significant impact on the sports industry. Nowadays, sports fans no longer depend on cable TV to watch their favorite teams. Thanks to the internet and smartphone technology, fans from all corners of the world can stream matches live.

 

• The 21st-century athlete also has to deal with the power they wield on social media. This power has presented them with both opportunities and challenges. They also have the responsibility to be role models to the younger generation that follows their activities online.

 

• Digital technology has also transformed sports betting. Sportsbooks have developed sophisticated mobile apps that enable punters to bet on from their phones. This phenomenon has taken the sports betting world by storm.