Did you watch the big game this year? Chances are that if you did, you got to witness all of the spectacles that the event had to offer, including a lot of technology that enriched the experience, whether you realize it or not. The National Football League has implemented emerging technologies that have helped solve persistent challenges over the years. Let’s explore some of these technologies.
Better Player Safety
Look, there’s no beating around the bush with this one. The NFL has countless fans tuning in to watch incredible athletes perform at the highest levels. When you have athletes of this caliber butting heads with one another, there are bound to be some nasty injuries, and it’s important that players get the treatment they need in record time.
If players are not treated, there are more opportunities for poor health outcomes. Look to the many stories from several years ago of retired players suffering from massive headaches or exhibiting strange behavior. When the brain is damaged over and over, degenerative brain diseases like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can occur.
To address these issues, the NFL decided to alter the game's rules to support player health. Nowadays, you’ll find the NFL using IoT technology to collect information on players and work toward healthier outcomes for all.
More Accurate Player Performance
Player safety is far from the only data collected by the NFL. The organization constantly reviews data to improve what it offers viewers, including individual data that helps coaches build their ideal rosters. In fact, since 2022, the NFL has partnered with Amazon Web Services, or AWS, to create something called The Digital Athlete. Through AI, coaches, executives, and players can look at a comprehensive view of a player. This technology helps everyone involved make better decisions to operate better in their respective roles.
In-Game Augmented Reality
Augmented reality, or AR, is in play whenever you see lines drawn, down markers, or overlays across your television screen. The NFL has significantly ramped up its efforts at delivering a clean AR experience. One such way is through a 360-degree AR portal that gives fans a firsthand experience of the halftime show, which is pretty neat.
Additionally, the league is encouraging viewers to use technologies like ARound, an AR platform that pushes advertising and integrated experiences forward. AR could very well be the future of fan interaction, so it’s no surprise that the NFL would actively incorporate it into the biggest game of the year.
What are your thoughts on this technology? Be sure to keep your eye on our blog for more information about technology and its innovative uses.
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