modern technology in sport Flashcards
elite performance
strengths:
- access
- facilities
- equipment
- monitoring of exercise
- safety
= modern tech to make assessments e.g. assess bone density + internal body fat)
= monitoring training (e.g. health screen devices)
= in competition (clothing equipment etc..)
- prosthetic devices = ‘springlite’ = shock absorber
general participation
strengths:
- access
- facilities
- equipment
- monitoring of exercise
- safety
weaknesses:
- cost
- alternative activities
fair outcomes
strengths:
- better timing devices
- increased accountability of officials
- more accurate decision making
- improved detection of foul play
- improved detection of doping
weaknesses:
- limited access to modern tech
- PED testing can’t keep up w/ new drug development
- pressure on officials due to exposure + scrutiny of their decisions
entertainment
strengths:
- action replays
- multiple camera angles
- slow motion technology
- improved analysis
- punditry
weaknesses:
- interruption + delay
- reduced live attendances
access - elite performance
- provision of high quality facilities has improved: - the quality of training
- transport/ access
- e.g. wheelchair lifts
- made it easier for disabled athletes to use these facilities
= disability
= all-year round participation
facilities - elite performance
- the use of modern facilities
- e.g. all weather pitches
- heat chambers
- altitude simulators etc..
- all help athletes to be in peak physical condition by improving the quality of their training
equipment - elite performance
- the development of lightweight equipment
- e.g. graphite tennis rackets + carbon-fibre bicycle frames
= greatly improved sporting performance
monitoring of exercise - elite performance
- performance analysis can now be performed using:
- high speed cameras
- highly accurate fitness testing equipment
- motion-tracking software
- in order to inform training methods + carefully analyse performance
= monitoring health
safety - elite performance
- safety devices
- e.g. safety helmets
- harnesses
- fail-safe mechanisms on weight machines
- means that elite athletes are less likely to injure themselves when participating
access - general participation
- improved infrastructure around modern sporting facilities
- improved access for all parts
= especially disabled parts
facilities - general participation
- improvements to sporting facilities
- e.g. public facilties
= helps increase participation rates
= improves the sporting experience of users
equipment - general participation
- modern equipment
- e.g. lightweight tennis rackets
- made participation easier for beginners
- also allow general pop to improve their performances
= encourage participation
monitoring of exercise - general participation
- personal exercise monitors allow people to accurately track their levels of physical activity
= e.g. smart watches - encourage participation + motivation for continued participation
safety - general participation
- part rates have increased as sports are becoming safe to take part in
- e.g. improvements in equipment + facilities + surface conditions
cost - general participation
- improvements to facilities
= increase cost of running + maintaining them - lead to increased access fees for the general pop
alternative activities - general participation
- general improvements in tech have provided a range of alternate activities to physical activity
- e.g. online TV streaming has increased sedentary behaviour
better timing devices - fair outcomes
- improvements in timing devices
= allow more accurate timing in sporting events - e.g. 100m sprint
accountability of officials - fair outcomes
- the ability to review the decisions of officials
- ensures they are held accountable
= encourages more accurate decisions
accurate decision making - fair outcomes
- officials can use modern tech
- e.g. Hawk-Eye in tennis
- TV match officials in rugby
- to review play + make more accurate decisions
detection of foul play - fair outcomes
- use of TV replays e.g. TV officials in rugby
- allows officials to review play + decide whether a foul has occurred
= provides them w/ opportunities to reverse on-field decisions
detection of doping - fair outcomes
new drug testing techniques allow officials to detect athletes who are using more modern doping techniques
limited access - fair outcomes
- modern officiating systems can be expensive
= not available to every sport/ club etc.. - increases the gap between popular + minority sports
- not available to 3rd world countries
- only used in some sports
PED developing - fair outcomes
- new, sophisticated drugs + doping techniques are constantly being developed
- drug testers are always playing catch up
= drug cheats can go undetected despite testing techniques
pressure on officials - fair outcomes
- due to increased accountability of officials
- even more pressure on them to make the correct decisions
- modern tech e.g. multiple camera angles
= allow poor decisions to be identifies
= increased scrutiny
action replays - entertainment
- reshowing action from a match immediately after it has happened
= further increases enjoyment of spectators
= can relive the moment
multiple camera angles - entertainment
- viewing from different camera angles can give spectators gerater appreciation
- more entertaining
- e.g. show crowds’, managers’, teams’ reactions
- or multiple angles of a winning shot etc..
slow motion tech - entertainment
- audiences can view a movement in more detail
- increase their appreciation for the skill
improved analysis - entertainment
- more info is now available for analysts to review sporting events
- e.g. heat maps allow you to view areas on the pitch that a specific player covered during a match
= gives greater insight into the event
punditry - entertainment
- pundits have more info available to them as a result of modern tech
= allowing them to provide more insightful comments
interruption + delay - entertainment
- using action replays + slow motion tech
= interrupts natural flow of the game - sometimes means other action is misssed
reduced live attendances - entertainment
- more entertaining to watch sporting events on TV
- incentive to attend live sporting events has decreased
- fans prefer watching from home as you have a better view of the action
equipment
- lightweight wheelchairs
- cricket helmets
- golf balls
- carbon-fibre bicycles
- tennis rackets
facilities
- all weather pitches
- floodlights
- safety harnesses
- zero-gravity treadmills
- climate control
- adjustable depth swimming pols
- underwater treadmills
clothing
- lycra/ compression garments
- running trainers
- prosthetics
- hydrodynamic body suits
computers + software
- cameras
- motion sensors
- hawk-eye
- fitness apps
- fitbit/ smart watches
- video technology
modern tech aid elite performance
- assessment of potential/ screening
- injury diagnosis/ treatment/ rehab
- enhanced training e.g. hypoxic chambers, anti-gravity treadmills
- improved equipment e.g. lighter, more efficient, clothing = tennis rackets, prosthetics etc..
- player/ part monitoring = HR monitors to monitor performance
- sport science support = bio-mechanical analysis, physiological monitoring e.g. VO2 max, video analysis equipment
increased participation - disabled people
- adaptation of mobility equipment
e.g. lightweight wheelchairs for tennis, basketball etc… - improved facilities
e.g. hoists to enable access in + out of swimming pools - enable safe exercise
e.g. gym equipment used in wheelchair - develop equip for users w/ specific needs
e.g. basketballs/ footballs w/ bells inside for visually-impaired performers - creation of new sports
e.g. wheelchair rugby - techno advances in prostheses
e.g. specialised prosthetic limbs for specific activities e.g. running + rock climbing
effect of devices on participation
- reduces time available for part
- provides entertainment, so physical not needed
- reduced physical effort by using devices
- used as a sub for physical activity
- participating in virtual sport/ watching online may inspire live participation
- devices may be used as fitness monitor/ online classes
- may increase knowledge of sport + improve performance
has modern tech made sport fairer?
- helps officials make more accurate decisions
- reduces cheating + improved detection of foul play
- improved doping detection
- improved inclusion = allows disabled athletes to be included
- incorrect decisions can be overturned
- more accurate timing/ measuring devices
HOWEVER:
- some people may not be able to afford technology
- creates new drugs to avoid detection
effect of modern tech on sports spectator
- ensures fair outcome e.g. Hawkeye
- increases entertainment
- 24/7 access = sport can be viewed anywhere. anytime due to internet etc..
- increases levels of performance e.g. enhanced prosthetics
- cause breaks/ delays = break the flow of the game + slows the sport down
- encourages cheating e.g. new tech develops drugs
- reduced live attendance = better viewing experience at home
