Technology has developed unbelievably fast in the recent years, and it is nearly impossible to keep up with every aspect of it. It has been integrated into almost every field and has a significant effect on how our daily routine works.
With every technological advancement, the procedures keep improving, which in turn increases the demand. The rapidly advancing technology has increased transport efficiency and safety. It has also made access to food and healthcare much easier and has also improved the marketing experience of the consumers. There is a whole separate market now where companies specifically focus on implementing the latest technologies to improve a certain sport.
The sports technology market has all sorts of equipment that are developed to serve and improvise different functions, a few examples of that are sensors, advanced cameras, protective equipment, and many different wearable techs.
Technology in sports has helped both professionals and amateurs as there are tools ranging from professional monitoring devices to applications that enables the consumers to track daily routines. The applications can be used on any smart device, including smartphones, tablets, or personal computers.
In a professional setting, there are many advanced systems and equipment that are utilized separately or together to gather crucial information about any errors in the game, along with tracking a player’s performance. Afterwards, the data can be carefully analyzed to get insights that can help in fixing the error while improving the training program for the athletes.
Let us get a closer look at some of the top applications and devices that are most prominent in the market:
- Google Fit
Google’s fitness tracking app is one of the best apps that can allow us to track our pace and steps and even the distance from one point to another. Its advanced features have even enabled the user to synchronize the app with other devices and applications that let the user get detailed information about their progress and activity level.
- Nike Training Club
Nike has been one of the most prominent sports companies in the world and the fitness application developed by them has been widely used by people around the world. The application is very beginner friendly as it has an extensive list of video and photo demonstrations that can be thirty to forty minutes long. It provides detailed suggestions based on the user’s goal.
- Sports Wearable Tech
The sports wearable field has seen multiple developments in recent years owing to the rapid advancements in sensor technology and their accuracy has completely revolutionized the fitness tracker market. The recent developments in wearable techs have not only made it functional but also well-designed enough for them to enter the fashion world.
The Apple watches have advanced enough with their improved heart monitoring and ECG functionalities to be approved by the FDA as a class 2 medical device.
- Protective equipment
Athletes of every sport equip themselves with the required protective equipment as it can allow them to reduce the risk of injury or in some cases even death. Equipment such as helmets, mouth guards, goggles, braces, body armour, and gloves, among many others, are widely used by the players.
If we take into account the theory of risk homeostasis, players adjust themselves according to the perceived level of risk and lowering the risk can make the players play more recklessly.
In order to control and avoid serious injuries, engineers, designers, and developers have started to develop new protective gear by utilizing sensors and wireless technologies.
Let us talk about a few of the latest developments in the market:
- Advanced Camera Technology
This is another amazing development in the field of sports technology. The hawk-eye technology allows the tracking of the trajectory of a ball, and it is increasingly being used in international championships and tourneys of cricket and tennis. The technology uses state-of-the-art cameras to take hundreds of frames a second, which is then sent to a computer to be analyzed and sent to the referee and television match officials.
Advanced camera systems have also enabled broadcasting services with enhanced video quality and dynamic shots of the match and the player. Drones are an emerging technology that can provide remarkable new developments for the sports technology market.
- Drowning Prevention System
An electronic swimmer monitoring device has been developed in accordance to provide safety to swimmers. It might be unexpected for some but an unexpected number of people die or become permanently disabled due to drowning, and such cases can happen even in the presence of lifeguards.
There are various gears available in that market can be worn as a headband, or wristband, or can be attached to a swimmer’s goggles. The sensors attached to the device send out a distress signal when the swimmer exceeds the safety limit for submersion. The signals are then received by the highly sensitive hydrophone receivers located in the lake or pool. These receivers then transform it into an auditory and visual alarm that alerts lifeguards or pool managers on shore.
- Impact Detection Smart Helmets
Engineers and experts have found that traditional helmets and variants can only provide protection against impact to the skull and prevent fractures but the brain is still vulnerable to concussion.
To deduce the amount of impact that can cause a concussion and develop a countermeasure, helmets with comprehensive detection systems were developed which were embedded with multiple sensors. These sensors would measure the level and direction of the impact on a player’s head.
The impact data is then wirelessly relayed to a computer which is in the control of trainers and coaches. The data is then analyzed to ascertain the player's probability of having a concussion. Through this, coaches and medical staff will be able to make faster decisions and avoid any serious injuries.
These advanced equipments have been proven to provide a better experience for everyone from players to coaches and fans. Looking at the rising popularity of sports around the world, governments of various countries have launched different schemes that can aid in the development of sports facilities from equipment to infrastructure.
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