How has technology affected sports in the last few years?
Better Viewing Experience
There are many simple things that we take for granted in our daily sports viewing world. One of these is the first down line in football, and the other is the score prominently displayed at the bottom of the television screen. These amenities have not always been there, and are now being taken for granted. One might argue that these two small changes to the viewing experience have made it exponentially better.
Opens Up Small Markets
The Internet has been useful for everything and everyone, especially the big companies such as a popular Sports blog, different news channels and sports websites, providing sports content for sports lovers. But, it has also helped keep small market teams relevant. Every team has a website that can be visited with information on the players, the team’s last game and blogs full of information and opinions. Without this access, there would be no market in cities like Milwaukee, Kansas City and Portland.
Better for Coaches: Fame, Film and Scouting
Scouting talent has, since the beginning of time, been based on guts, feelings and instincts. Now, through technological precision, scouts have an entire sheet of information on how fast an athlete can run, how high they can jump and how accurate their passing is.
These are all-important factors that went unnoticed for years, and are now being corrected, hopefully decreasing the number of busts that scouts recommend.
Makes the Game Fair
This is a part of the game that many people have issues with. Technology, in the form of synthetic drugs, has created much of the cheating that officials work hard to eradicate. But testing has become more sophisticated, eliminating much of the cheating. Another important invention, humidors, were created to counterbalance the thin air in several stadiums. This technology is important in making sure that both teams have a fair chance.
Fantasy Sports
Yup, fantasy sports are dorky, but it is a billion dollar a year industry. When fantasy baseball first started, people would look at the previous day’s box score to calculate league winners. Now, we have up to the second stat lines and point updates that make the game more exciting. Say what you will about fantasy sports, but it brings people that do not have a lot of knowledge of the game into the system and teaches them the sport from the inside out. It has helped make the leagues bigger and more important.
Video Gaming Experience
I will be the first to admit that my soccer fandom began with FIFA ’09 and has grown ever since. Visually stunning video games have made it desirable to play often and always buy the newest version. Knowing which players are good and where they play is more than half the battle in getting someone to know and understand a particular sport. The improved gaming experience brought on by advancements in technology has made this happen.
Helps with Nutrition and Training
Running around a track and lifting weights is no longer the best way to get the most out of your body and your training sessions. The good people at GNC and other retailers have made workouts more effective and productive. Training facilities have also started popping up all over the country, offering the cutting edge technology in maximising your talents through hard work and unique training methods.
