Innovation and technology have changed how people view sports. The latest trends have affected the players more positively than one can ever imagine. Performance and safety are gaining more importance, with some of the best advances ruling the sports arena. Innovative devices and equipment allow athletes to gain an edge over their older counterparts, who mainly had manual support during their matches.
In addition to player support, these also allow the referee to avoid bad decisions because of a lack of data or evidence. Fans are not left behind either. There might be a situation when fans may not visit the stadium due to specific problems. But with fan engagement technology in place, one can attain a live gaming experience in totality. Read about the top innovation trends in sports that cover fans, athletes, and even referee performance.
Smart Helmets
A football helmet, an essential accessory, can change the meaning of safety for athletes today. One of the significant side effects of contact sports is injury. It can destroy all chances of a win for any athlete and ruin their career. The football helmet promises to make things easy for football players. It has been there for a while, without much publicity. Research on this helmet has been underway for the last 100 years and is still on.
The helmet comes with sensors that record impact. It also signals the staff at the ground’s periphery when something significant happens. If you think that is all, then you are wrong. The helmet also has an accelerometer. Additionally, the helmet has multiple layers to protect the head. Such helmets come with liquid crystals embedded in soft rubber. It makes the helmet efficient at absorbing impacts.
Portable Technology
A speed gun for a baseball is one such device that has changed how contenders play their game. It is mainly used to measure the speed with which a pitcher throws the ball. The gun comes in a fairly small size. Coaches across the world are using it more than ever. You will come across a variety of guns like mounted ones, handheld ones, and pocket ones as well. The speed is measured in miles per hour in the U.S. Apart from baseball, other sports leverage such devices.
Certain professional swimming pools are also equipped with touchpads installed at each end of the lane. These provide the officials monitoring the performance to record the exact times taken by the swimmers to swim from one end of the pool to another. During basketball sessions, such portable technology comes in handy. The referees carry instant replay systems that record the ongoing of the match and give accurate data for viewing later.
Racer Suits
These innovations in sports aid in athlete performance management. For any professional player, breaking records is the ultimate goal. Some devices make it more achievable by making the movements more efficient and effective. The Racer suit is a massive innovation in this arena.
The racer suits will lessen the pressure on the player to a certain extent. Additionally, it gives better flexibility and helps the swimmer repel water pressure. Swimmers wore the same suit in the Beijing Olympics, and it delivered quite a punch. Athletes who were equipped with the suit won more matches than the others.
AR or Augmented Reality
AR has various applications in the sports industry. The latest been to analyze the extent of injury the athlete has suffered. Moreover, such devices can also monitor how fast the injury heals. There are sensors that athletes can utilize to monitor their joints, muscles, and bones.
The AR visualizer can detect abnormalities in such parts, and the physiotherapist gets to know the internal situation through display devices. It will help the incumbent to monitor the insights in real-time. It generally appears in the display like a holographic image.
Fan Engagement Technology
Sports without fans is nothing. So, if fans cannot cheer for their favorite teams at the stadium, VR can help. While specific restrictions have made it impossible for fans to attend live matches today, technology has paved the way for better responses. VR headsets are great for sports enthusiasts who cannot participate in live sporting events. It gives the fans a live experience from the comfort of their homes.
OTT content has also made the gaming experience better than ever for fans. Even if someone cannot attend the matches on TV, the internet is there to the rescue. There will be more expansion in such experiences dedicated to social media-based platforms and apps by next year. With Big Data as one of the emerging technologies, the OTT platforms can personalize and display the content according to the viewers’ tastes.
These are the best innovations for sports today. You can look forward to more such thrills concerning performance, injury prevention, and safety in the near future.
