Technology has always impacted sports. It influences the equipment athletes use and the fields where they play. These advancements have boosted performance and safety for everyone involved.
In this article, we’ll explore how new tech is changing sports. We’ll dive deep into viewer experiences, highlighting VR and AR. Additionally, we’ll discuss tech that boosts athlete performance, especially advanced analytics.
Advanced analytics
Top-level sports require in-depth analysis. Coaches and trainers use this analysis to customize training routines for their athletes. Advanced analytics offer insights that were once unthinkable. GPS and motion-sensor technology give players, trainers, and coaches tools to enhance their game. They don’t have to rely on gut feelings anymore.
These advanced analytics also pinpoint emerging talents in sports. This is crucial in team sports like basketball and football. Spotting top young talent can change a team’s trajectory.
Streaming Services
Streaming technology has transformed entertainment consumption, with giants like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ leading the charge. People now have more entertainment at their fingertips than ever before.
Sports have also embraced streaming, albeit slowly. Now, fans can stream major sports such as the NFL, NBA, soccer, tennis, and golf on various apps and platforms.
VR viewing experiences
But it’s not just streaming that’s shaking things up. VR headsets, popular among gamers, are now attracting sports fans. These fans enjoy watching games from unique angles, like their favorite athlete’s POV or a courtside NBA view.
Additionally, Augmented Reality (AR) is entering the sports scene. Using AR devices like Google Glass or Apple’s Vision Pro, fans can view a game and simultaneously access player profiles or game stats.
With VR and AR, sports become more immersive. As tech prices drop, more people will likely adopt these immersive experiences.
Also Read – What the Premier League can learn from the NFL
VAR integration
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) systems have been used in a number of different sports in recent years, most notably in the NFL, Cricket, Rugby Union, and Tennis. VAR allows officials to make use of technology, including instant replays and different camera angles, to make the right calls and ensure the game is played fairly.
Video Assistant Referee has also begun being used in the world’s most popular sport – soccer, in the last few years. VAR technology hasn’t been without controversies since it was introduced in soccer, particularly in the English Premier League, where there have been many controversial incidents. However, fans of the sport also accept that it allows for better decision-making in some crucial aspects, particularly things like penalty calls and offsides.
VAR is likely to be used in more sports in the future, as the advantages of being able to quickly access and use instant replay technology become more apparent. Online gaming sites are evolving with the times and making their already streamlined platforms even more integrated with all this newest tech.
Conclusion
We’ve looked at some of the ways that current and emerging technology is helping to shape sports now and in the near future. Further into the future, there’ll likely be ways that sports change due to technology that is hard to imagine at this point in time. The point of technology in sports has always been to improve performance, make things safer, and enhance the viewer experience. Hopefully, this trend will continue into the future.
