The world of sport is now boasting some pretty exciting innovations in technology to not only enhance the experience for the viewers but also to maximize the productiveness of the teams and players. Inventions such as Hawk-Eye have offered more insight into decisions for people at home, interactive online bookies enrich the betting experience, and wearables such as Catapult GPS Vests assist greatly in tracking the fitness of athletes.
One of the best ways to get into any sport is to place bets on the outcome. That way you can become invested in the action even if it’s not your favorite sport or team. Online betting technology has become so advanced now that placing a bet on anything is incredibly simple. The odds are constantly updated, there are 24-hour chat windows if you need assistance, and some virtual events like horse racing can even be watched live from the site.
Instead of just taking on a winner or a loser, now players can bet on almost anything. Bettors are often opting to try the improved player props at certain sites, where they can bet on specific players. For example, someone may want to punt on Harry Kane firing five shots on target or Diego Costa picking up a yellow card in a certain match.
The technology being used to judge sport and assist with decisions is also heightening the event for sports fanatics. Cricket and rugby are two prime examples of sports that are taking advantage of all the innovations they can get their hands on. In cricket in the past, whenever there was a shout for LBW or a faint edge it was down to the umpire to make the decision as to whether the player was out or not.
But now, the umpire or the players can refer it to the Decision Review System (see video above) which draws upon various aspects of technology to make the correct call. They use Hawk-Eye to track the ball’s trajectory, Snickometer to listen for the sound of bat on ball, and Hotspot to see where the ball has made contact. And the beauty of this method is that the viewers at home can see this going on at the same time and make their own decisions. It creates a truly immersive experience.
Technology is also being used to greater extents in enhancing players’ performance and in developing tactics. Leicester City Football Club are a prime example of a team that put advancements in tech to good use in the 2015-16 Premier League season. They used Catapult GPS vests to track fitness levels and create player-specific training plans. The device also helped work out which players were most effective in which positions, thus assisting with formation plans. In addition to that, the Foxes used a NordBord to improve hamstring strength and minimalize the chances of injury.
With sports now opening the door for modern technology, it is good news for the viewers at home. With things like goal-line technology in soccer and player-cam in rugby adding to the engaging experience, let’s hope that as more technology is offered, sports jump on it straight away.
More News to Read
