Digital Technology in Sports

The digital age has revolutionized the manner in which sports are viewed and the way athletes prepare and perform in their sport. Technologies such as computer analysis, statistical breakdowns and even high-definition displays have contributed greatly to providing fans an enhanced method of watching and experiencing sports. Fans and sports officials alike may now experience a more complete view of the game's nuances.

  1. Benefits

    • The digital technology of high-definition TVs and instant replay systems allows fans and sports officials to watch the sport in a clearer, crisper fashion. The National Football League started using HD telecasts in 2007 in order to help determine the correct calls in close situations, according to Harris Corporation. These HD digital images are five times clearer than regular standard-definition images and can best help determine the correct outcome.

    Accuracy

    • As athletes measure up in regards to accuracy, intelligence and overall physical skill, the digitally measured 40-yard dash time has become crucial in the sports arena. More widely used than a hand-held stopwatch and also perceived as more accurate, digital timing of a player's speed--such as when running the 40-yard dash--offers a precise measurement.

    Analysis

    • Sports professionals also use digital methods to perfect their techniques. A baseball player may use a digital sensor placed upon his body to capture his swing and then review it on a monitor. A golfer can use similar digital technology to assess his swing. This form of digital technology allows for slow-motion playback, which provides an accurate examination of precisely what happens during a swing. A player has the option to review her swing from various angles and analyze her technique.

    Impact

    • The digital technology revolution has had a massive impact on the video game industry, which is highly influenced by sports. High-tech consoles have captured gaming realism never before seen. Gamers can scrutinize minute details of video game characters, backgrounds and special effects. Many video games attempt to mimic real life; however, real life is now mimicking video games. Using a technique learned in a video game, Brandon Stokely of the Denver Broncos attempted to take precious seconds off the clock in a 2009 NFL game, as noted in Wired.

    Education

    • With digital technology becoming the norm, the ability to view prior plays frame-by-frame makes it easier for coaches to spot mistakes and use it as a learning tool in the future. Years ago, a minor blunder could slip past an official or coach's eye, but now each move can be digitized, observed and picked apart. Coaches also have the ability to do side-by-side comparisons of athletes--another form of education in the locker room. Athletes are benefiting from this technology as well. Coaches have found that digitizing players allows for the hypothetical movement of athletes "like a movable chalkboard," as noted by the Sport Digest. Such technologies are revolutionizing how coaches educate their teams.