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
Old sports helmets were a move in the right direction New helmets are stronger lighter and more effective For example the new miCoach Smart Ball is designed to help people improve their soccer skills A sensor in the middle of the ball tracks the speed height and direction of the ball when the ball is kicked The data is sent to a smartphone which tracks the user’s progress Technology is providing ways to improve player performance while also improving player safety such as with stronger helmets and health-monitoring devices Technology has also helped make sports more inclusive Athletes with disabilities are now being provided with better tools such as high-tech wheelchairs which allow them to take part in sports at the highest levels These are exciting times in the world of sports Hockey was one of the first sports to use video technology to help officials make decisions 5
NEW CAMERA ANGLES Leland Stanford the founder of Stanford University in California was a fan of horse racing In 1872 he hired a photographer to prove that a running horse lifts all four feet off the ground at once Ever since cameras have been used in many different ways in sports They decide scores settle bets and record every move New technology has opened up new ways for people to see a game whether they are athletes officials or spectators At international soccer matches drone cameras can record action from all the right angles Coaches and athletes in sports such as baseball basketball and golf use video analysis They film themselves in action then look at the video to see how they can play better Referees and officials use cameras for playback They do this to make sure their decisions are correct and fair They do not want to miss out on counting a goal or spotting a penalty Many cameras are still held by hand However cameras can also be attached to high posts or cables above the playing field and operated by computer The latest drone technology means the camera can move almost anywhere With these added viewpoints television broadcasts are more interesting to watch Good camera work improves audience enjoyment It can make people watching Hockey Night in Canada feel as though they are actually in the arena 6 CAUGHT ON FILM
Headcams are no longer very costly They are now commonly used by both amateur and professional athletes Drones with cameras can capture new angles at sports events Quadcopter drones with four rotary blades are the most stable for camera work With video taken from overhead games and practices are easier for coaches and players to analyze Video recordings can be fed into analysis software such as Sportscode which can then be studied by players and coaches Now even amateur athletes use cameras They can wear GoPro headcams to take videos of what they are doing to watch later for fun and to share with friends or the public They can also analyze the video to see how they can improve their performance It is handy technology and you do not have to be a rocket scientist to use it 7 TECHNO PLANET CAMERAS FOR EVERYONE
