Technology in Sport

Advances in technology have had a profound impact on sport including:

Analysis of sport performance and enabling coaches to greatly improve the quality of feedback to players/athletes
Increase accuracy in time measurements of sport performance
Enabling referees, umpires and sport officials to make better decisions on rule infringements
Improvements in the design of sport equipment and apparel
Providing spectators with better viewing of sport performance

The video camera became commonplace in the 1980's and provided sports coaches with a way to capture and analyse sport performance like never before. The video camera is perhaps the single most important development in coaching in the modern era of sport.

Electronic timing controlled by computers is employed to measure performance times of athletes in a great many sports including Athletics, Cycling, Skiing, Bobsled, Triathlon and many more. In the case of Athletics, the electronic timing also measures the athlete's reaction time to the start gun in case the athlete moves too early in the blocks.

The Force Platform is an apparatus placed under the feet of the athlete and measures their 'ground reaction force'. This is useful in sports such as Weightlifting and enables measurement of force and acceleration throughout the athlete's performance of a lift. Curiously, the measurement of force is due to the miniscule change in properties of crystals upon which the platform rests.

Hawkeye Technology Hawkeye, a computer system first used in 2001 for showing the trajectory of a cricket ball has made an immeasurable difference to the sport of Cricket. Hawkeye produces all manner of statistical analysis such as ball speed, ball pitch on the wicket and trajectory of the ball after bounce. Hawkeye is now used in Tennis to assist in determining whether a shot is "in" or "out". The analysis of sport performance provided by Hawkeye has greatly enhanced the spectator's knowledge and involvement.

As a result of miniaturized video cameras, spectators are also now able to witness sport performance in ways that previously was not possible. Video cameras can be placed in places such as racing cars, cricket stumps, goal posts, and even on the athlete themselves.

Sporting equipment continually undergoing research and development to improve sporting performance. Some of the best examples include:

Fully body swim wear, made of polyurethane, made a huge impact in the 2008 Olympics only to be banned a year later because it was too obviously making a difference to sporting performance.
Kevlar fibre (5 times stronger than steel yet lighter, used in the manufacture of sails, bicycle tires, football boots, tennis rackets, helmets, body armour and more.
Raving cycles and rowing shells made of lightweight but strong materials, and minimise drag though the air or water.

Some people decry the use of technology to improve sports performance but in reality it is inevitable. The research and development of sport apparatus and apparel is an industry in itself which creates opportunity for investment and employment.