Supercharged Sports: High-Tech Sports Science

Supercharged Sports: High-Tech Sports Science — page 1
SPORTS TECH All sports use technology Technology is the use of science to invent new things or make things work better Athletes and coaches use technology to improve performance Officials such as referees use technology to ensure fair play Fans use technology too to watch broadcasts calculate statistics and more Even those who play sports just for fun benefit from technology Sometimes technology is the most fun part of sports Racing wheelchairs use light metal alloys like those used in aircraft and space probes 4 SOME THINGS DO NOT CHANGE BETTER WITH TECH Technology has been used in sports throughout history In Ancient Greece a starting gate called a hysplex was developed for races It ensured all runners got a fair start A rope barrier stretching in front of the racers was connected to a post at each end of the starting line At the start the posts were released which made the rope barrier fall and all the runners could begin the race Versions of the hysplex are still used today Carvings on Ancient Egyptian monuments show a game being played with a ball The best technical skills of that time went into making the balls They were made of leather coverings that were stuffed with plants or hay then stitched together by hand Today soccer balls are still made in a similar way with the leather coverings still often stitched by hand but the balls are now filled with air Modern technology has made major advances in the quality and function of sports equipment