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Sports & Technology
- Vivek Malusare
Sporting technologies are man-made Technology has transformed the way
methods, developed to reach human fans experience sports, providing new
interests or goals in or relating to a and immersive ways to connect with
particular sport. Technology in sports is a their favourite teams and athletes. Virtual
technical means by which athletes attempt reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)
to improve their training and competitive technologies are creating interactive
surroundings to enhance their overall experiences that transport fans into the
athletic performance. heart of the action, allowing them to
The world of sports has always been at experience games from unique perspectives.
the forefront of innovation, embracing Additionally, social media platforms have
technological advancements to enhance revolutionized fan engagement, providing
performance, improve officiating, and direct access to athletes, real-time updates,
engage fans in new and exciting ways. From and opportunities for fans to interact with
the introduction of instant replay to the each other and share their passion for sports.
utilization of wearable sensors, technology The future of sports technology is
has become an integral part of the sporting brimming with exciting possibilities.
landscape, redefining the way we play, Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to play
watch, and experience sports. Technology a significant role in analyzing performance
has revolutionized the way athletes train data, identifying patterns, and predicting
and prepare for competition. Wearable outcomes, providing coaches and athletes
devices, such as smartwatches and fitness with invaluable insights. Additionally,
trackers, provide real-time data on heart advancements in wearable technology
rate, pace, and distance, allowing athletes and sensor development will enable real-
to monitor their workouts and optimize their time monitoring of athletes’ physiological
training regimens. Additionally, advanced and biomechanical data, allowing for
analytics tools enable coaches to analyze personalized training and injury prevention
performance data, identify areas for strategies.
improvement, and tailor training programs Technology is playing an increasingly
to individual athletes’ needs. important role in sports in India, helping to
Technology has also played a crucial role in improve performance, engagement, and
improving officiating and decision-making accessibility. Here are some of the key areas
in sports. Hawk-Eye, a ball-tracking system, where technology is making a difference.
has become a staple in tennis and cricket, Wearable technology is being used to track
providing precise visual evidence to assist athletes’ movements, heart rate, and other
umpires in making accurate calls. In football, physiological data, providing insights into
goal-line technology eliminates human their performance and helping them train
error in determining whether a ball has more effectively.
crossed the goal line. These advancements Data analytics is being used to analyze large
have enhanced the fairness and accuracy amounts of data from matches and training
of officiating, ensuring that the outcome sessions, helping coaches to identify patterns
of games is determined by athletic and make better decisions. AI-powered tools
performance rather than human error. are being used to identify athletes at risk of
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