Importance of Technology in Sports
Sports, no matter what kind, is a celebration of hard work, persistence, perseverance, and skill. It has been an integral part of human lives’ entertainment since time immemorial. Mobile phones and the whole world of the internet were not even a distant dream at the time.
There is something so captivating about all kinds of sports that keep its beholders glued to their seats. Technology in sports plays a pivotal role in advancing all domains in sports. Ever-evolving sports engineering has been helping all kinds of sports to overcome the limitations of human performance. Given the pace and results of technological development, more and more sportspersons are compelled to gain a competitive advantage in their respective sports. Here is how information technology in sports has impacted various aspects related to sports:-
- Sports Performance Analysis
With the help of cutting-edge cameras, coaches can now pinpoint even the minutest mistakes. It has also ended up dramatically improving the quality of feedback meant to be conveyed to the sportspersons.
- Time Measurement Accuracy
Earlier judges faced extremely perplexing times when it came to delivering the final judgment in sports. Consequently, we witnessed an array of emotions resulting from a flawed judgment, right from heated discussions to public outbursts, from sportspersons’ aggressive faces to verbal spats, and whatnot. However, in the wake of growing technological advancements, it has become much easier to minimize varied conflicts with increased accuracy in measurements. Especially in precision sports, judgment accuracy is considered crucial for the success of sports.
- Data collection
With the help of advanced technological devices like software-driven spreadsheets, it has become easier to collect data and ensuring accuracy. Earlier, the data collection would be manual, resulting in a tiring process full of errors. Data collection regarding conditioning, competition, strength, recovery, and beyond is now much reliable and accurate after integrating information technology in sports. Without accurate measurement, it is not possible to improve the area of performance. The reliability of measurement has been enhanced to a great extent in the context of repeatability and consistency. With the advent of state-of-the-art technological devices encompassing accelerometers and GPS, measurement errors in data collection have become negligible.
- Result-driven communication
Establishing lucid and result-driven communication between sportsperson and coach is of utmost importance for improving the quality of performance. This is where the role of technologically advanced tools comes into the picture.
- Instant Replay Booths
Judges, sportspersons, and the public can perfectly differentiate the winner from losers, especially in games where a ball is used like Tennis, Badminton, Rugby, Volleyball, Cricket, Football, Soccer, and more. All credit goes to the “Hawk-Eye technology”, which is competent in visually capturing the ball’s path. This technology leverages the principle of triangulation by extracting the timing data and visual images from high-speed video cameras. These cameras are placed at such locations that the ball’s path is visible from any angle. The number of ideal cameras to be placed depending on the ball size, game rules, and the playing area.
- Sportswear
Sportswear is yet another aspect that has been impacted positively by technology in sports. Undisputedly, the innovation of an array of synthetic fabrics has been one of the most significant technological boons experienced by sportspersons. With the help of more breathable, adaptable, lighter, and humidity-resistant garments, it has become possible for sportspersons to optimize their performance quality. Even sports equipment for all kinds of sports has improved a lot.
- Injury treatments
There was a time when injuries jeopardized the career of the sportspersons. With the help of the integration of AI in sports, sportspersons no longer need to shun their dreams. Earlier sports persons were dependent on grafting for recovery. In the wake of evolving advanced biotechnology and nanotechnology, ligament alone suffices to regenerate ligament, thereby accelerating the recovery process. How can we overlook the role of AI in sports that have brought hope for disabled people? Innovative technological and robotics equipment have empowered sportspersons to such an extent that they can now compete in sports at all elite levels.
The bottom line
The charisma of sport lies in its capability to transcend the barriers of any kind of discrimination and geographical barriers to celebrate human potential. Technology holds an extraordinary place in sport, but if it takes away the sheer hard work and candid human skill, there emerges a concern. Innovation related to technology in sports has certainly made sports accurate and safer, but the challenge lies in making sure that the deployment-related to technology does not end up overshadowing the core skills of the sportsperson. And that’s precisely why it has become essential to regulate AI in Sports to preserve its spirit.
