It’s that time of year again when Henman Hill is filled with swathes of fans, Pimm’s, strawberries and cream: Wimbledon is upon us once more! Now streamed in more corners of the world than ever before thanks to advancements in technology, the annual tennis competition has opened up discussions about how technology has and is continuing to enhance the world of sport…
Changing the way we see, hear and play sport
Since the installation of LED big-screens in football stadiums during the 1990s, technology has weaved its way into all sports from swimming to softball, rugby to cricket. Its involvement has only benefitted the sports industry – alleviating pressure on referees, helping athletes to better understand their performance and allowing audiences to gain a better viewing experience.
Take Centre Court, for example. From your seat, you can clearly see the score on the big-screen, as well as the serve speed and precisely where the ball landed (depending on how many glasses of champagne you’ve had, of course!).
Advances in serve-speed technology and the use of ‘smart’ carbon fibre tennis racquets have revolutionised the world of tennis, while the ‘Hawk-Eye’ computer system can be used to visually track the trajectory of the ball in numerous sports including tennis, volleyball and badminton. As such, athletes have never been better equipped to take on their chosen sport with confidence, knowing that technology has their back every step of the way.
What’s more, live streaming technology means the public can now view whichever sport takes their fancy – even if they didn’t manage to get tickets to the event. Technology can be used to assist the athletes playing the sport, too. Thanks to sensors, golfers can now track their club speed, plane, tempo, hand path, backswing position and hip rotation, for example. This ability to review performance down to the minute details is key to identifying areas for improvement and making good progress.
What’s in store for the future?
Two decades ago, virtual reality (VR) was a concept of the distant future. Yet we are now starting to see VR emerge as a mechanism for athletes to train in a safe, optimised environment with a lessened risk of injury – before they set foot on the pitch. Going one step further than live streaming, sports fans can now also “attend” games from the other side of the world, simply by putting on a VR headset.
Was it a red card? Or does that tackle only warrant a yellow? Soon, the answer will be clear cut thanks to developments in artificial intelligence. As such, accuracy across all sports will improve, resulting in less hostility between players, fans and referees – and more time to get on with playing a smooth, uninterrupted game.
Bringing the latest technology to the sporting world
To design and develop sports technology that disrupts the industry, you need an innovative manufacturer to support the idea and provide the right solutions. EC Electronics have a wealth of experience within the sports technology sector and are skilled in a variety of different areas – from cable assembly and overmoulding to electronics box build and PCB assembly.
Together with some of the most innovative companies, EC work with clients to bring the latest, ground-breaking technology to market – helping to redefine what it means to be part of the sports industry.
Get in touch today to find out more about EC Electronics services and how you can work together to create the next breakthrough in sporting technology.
