Most sports lovers regularly check their cell phones and tablets to keep up with the latest scores and stats on their favorite teams, making it hard to imagine a world where sports are separate from technology. Still, sports and technology didn’t go hand in hand for much of history. After all, all you need to play basketball is a ball and hoop, and baseball only requires a ball and a bat. Despite that, technology has proven indispensable to sports, improving accuracy and enhancing enjoyment for both athletes and fans that Changed Sports.
Although the sports we watch and play haven’t changed much in recent history, technology has changed the way we consume and participate in sports. The advent of the internet pushed much of the sporting world online. Betting has always been an integral part of sporting events. People have bet on the outcome of sporting events for as long as they have existed. However, today many people place bets online, taking advantage of no deposit free bets and other offers from major sportsbooks. That’s not the only way technological innovations have changed sports, keep reading to learn more.
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Clocking Race Times
Seiko’s electronic automated timing system changed the face of track and field when it was introduced in 1954. This innovation included a photo-finish mechanism that improved accuracy to 1/100th of a second. The next big step forward in timing races occurred in the 1980s with the advent of RFID timing or transponders.
This technology used chips placed on athletes’ bodies to record times at different antenna points. Most recently, photo finish equipment has evolved to capture 3000 photos per second during track races. Getting an accurate time during track meets has always been difficult, but technology continues to make these recordings more precise.
Controlling the Weather
While it may sound far-fetched, technology has evolved to the point where we can control the weather. Well, at least that’s what China tried to do during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. China’s Weather Modification Office used cloud seeding and broke up rain clouds in an attempt to ensure good weather throughout the games. According to a study by Beijing University, they were successful. Who knows if or when this technology will arrive in other parts of the world.
The Shot Clock
Basketball fans worldwide understand the importance of the shot clock. In the NBA, teams have 24 seconds to get a shot off before they lose their opportunity to score and turn over the ball. Before the introduction of the shot clock, basketball struggled because not many people were interested in the low-scoring sport. The shot clock transformed the game into high-paced entertainment, making basketball one of the world‘s most popular sports.
Instant Replay
This technological innovation put an end to most disputed calls by referees. Since it became standard across the four major sports, we’ve witnessed calls reverse in major sporting events across the MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. Although traditionalists believe that this technology disrupts games and referees should be left alone to do their jobs, instant replay has increased the accuracy and fairness of games.
The media is partly responsible for instant replay becoming commonplace at sporting events. When the media began to broadcast games in the late 20th century, coaches, players, and fans often wanted to get a better look at controversial calls. Today, it’s hard to imagine a major sporting event without instant replay.
High Definition Television
While today’s sports fans can use VR headsets to watch sporting events, there was a time when people had to watch their favorite teams in person. If they don’t want to strap on a headset, they can tune in on their HD TV. Home entertainment has leveled up significantly over the past two decades, with 50-plus inch televisions becoming the norm in homes across America.
With ticket prices sky-high, it’s no wonder many have invested in high-end TVs for watching sports and more. These TVs allow at-home spectators to enjoy all of the details of the games they love from the comfort of their living room sofa.
