In the last decade or so, the sports industry has seen a drastic rush of technological advances that have changed each sport. From basketball, football, and soccer, to baseball and more, technology has certainly had its way with each. Purest of the sports might argue that technology is destroying sports and making it less interesting, but a younger generation might conclude that technology has elevated the plethora of games most of us have come to hold so dear. Whether we love it or hate, technology is here to stay. See below to see exactly how its changing the spectrum.
Social Media
There was once a time when you either saw sports on television, heard it on the radio, or waited until the next day when the results were printed in the newspaper. Today, however, social media changes all of that. Fans no longer have to ensure they are in front of their TV or by a radio; they can catch updates and see highlights on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Nearly all sports teams have non-stop, all-access coverage loaded with videos, score updates, player information, and more – all for fans to have at any given moment.
Advanced Stats
Before the modern day, there has never been a time where we are able to predict games, stats, and essentially what players do based solely on analytics. With the collection of sports data tools available today we are able to predict the percentage of shots a player makes from a certain spot on the floor, how many home runs a team will hit, and how many rushing yard a player will have based on how they’ve performed all season.
Injuries
Sports are high-impact physical games, and injuries are just bound to happen. While the freakish injuries and minor physical issues that leave players sidelined can’t be avoided, recovery and restoration has improved thanks to technology. Players are now able to heal faster and muscle functions are quickly determined due to the advancements that have come about.
Virtual Reality
In comes the future. Virtual reality has become a sought-after form of technology for all, especially sports teams. Teams like the Washington Wizards have dabbled in space and are steadily figuring out ways to translate virtual reality to real life scenarios. Wizards center Ian Minhimni currently uses it to improve his free throw shooting and accuracy.
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