Internet Of Things And How It Can Change The Sport World

Sports and its athletes can benefit greatly from implementing IoT technologies. Find out what kind of tech is available for athletes and how it works

20:32 09 July 2019

IoT And Its Application in Sports

Sports have long been at the forefront of modern technology. When the Internet became more widespread, many organisers began to make use of life streaming, allowing fans to watch sports on their smart devices anywhere in the world. Other improvements, such as camera technology, has allowed organisers to keep track of exactly what happens during a match, and to make decisions based on what was captured.

But we’re also starting to see technology permeate other parts of the sports world, and it’s expected that IoT may provide a number of improvements both to the athletes and the sports they participate in,

For Athletes

For those that are working on increasing their performance in whatever activity they participate in, IoT connectivity may have the answer, Wearable devices are able to record, save, and transmit the data they collect during a training session; information that the athlete can use to then work on the areas that need some improvement. These are some examples of where the technology can truly shine:

• Connected Footwear
  
  

These are shoes that have wireless connectivity, and can track the speed of the athletes, along with other information, such as their gait, the amount of pressure they are putting on their leg, and more. This information is tied to sensors in show that track the user as they jog or run, and can relay exactly what the athlete needs to improve in order to reduce strain on a specific joint or simply to improve their speeds.

• Connected Clothing
  
  

It doesn’t stop at footwear, however, as there are plenty of clothing items that come with integrated IoT tech. An example would be a specialised clothing item, such as a shirt or bangle, that is able to monitor heart rate, muscle usage, and breathing rate during exercise, and broadcast it to just about any device, allowing the user to use their smartphone to track their fitness while enjoying a bit of the online betting NZ has to offer. All of this information is useful to the athlete trying to better their times on the track or on the pool. It can also make the wearer aware of any potential problems, such as an irregular heartbeat or breathing issues. We’ve already seen this technology in the Fitbit and the Apple Watch, which are aimed at the average user, but the technology has spread to more professional settings and into more advanced wearable items. This, paired with monitoring and statistical software, will start to give athletes an edge on the sports field.

• Connected Equipment
  
  

This goes beyond the actual equipment used for exercising, but rather the equipment used in sports themselves. Rugby and soccer balls fitted with sensors are able to track shot and pass accuracy, along with the amount of strength used for a pass, to give a breakdown on how efficient that athlete was in their team setting. They can also gain insights in the shot and pass mechanics and arm strengths that allows the athlete to work on specific problem areas that they may have problems with, rather than attempting to work on something that they suspect is part of the problem.