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Posted on June 1st, 2009 by Emmett Jones in Series

Technology has come a long way since the advent of sports. When basketball was invented, you had zero chance of being able to watch it on television. When the first Super Bowl aired on television, you had zero chance of watching a video clip on your phone, or the internet. The HD came along and gave you every sport in details that you didn’t even know you wanted or existed. Technology today allows you to watch your home TV from your phone or computer hundreds of miles away, or catch all the latest highlights while flying in an airplane.

Thanks to technology, sport can be found any and everywhere.

And that certainly isn’t a bad thing, because today’s fan is obsessed with their sports; and sitting in front of the television all day isn’t always a viable option. Technology has to be not only keep up with the demands of sports fans but show sports fans different things the fan never imagined in the first place. An example of one of the more, cutting edge pieces of technology is the Nintendo-Mariners partnership in Seattle,

Nintendo announced Tuesday that Mariners fans can use their DS game players to access the stadium’s wireless Nintendo Fan Network free of charge. The network allows DS owners to track player stats, watch stadium video and access other Major League Baseball information.

The Nintendo Fan Network, exclusive to Safeco, allows DS owners to experience interactive content that can enhance their ballpark experience, said Mariners spokeswoman Rebecca Hale.

Pretty impressive use of a Wi-Fi network, no? My only complaint, when I wrote this article last April, was the requirement that you already needed to have a Nintendo DS in order to access information that was easily ascertainable elsewhere. But still, it was interesting to see how people were beginning to utilize technology to enahnce the fan experience. The Dolphins will continue to create an enhanced experience for fans at LandShark stadium,

Franchise owner Steven Ross continued his quest for global lady ogling domination selling tickets today, announcing the arrival of 5,000 handheld wireless devices designed to give fans an unprecedented in-game multimedia experience. The Kangaroo Gen III, a slimmer version of the portable TVs introduced to the NFL a few years ago, has a 4.3-inch high-definition screen that will provide instant replays, field level audio, fantasy team alerts, feeds of other games, and the ability to order food and drinks from the concession stands.

Users of the device…will have 11 customizable camera angles at their disposal, including… a cheerleader cam.

Another good idea. Decently sized screen, high definition capabilities, instant replays, order drinks from concession stands, etc. The only problem? The price point. The Kangaroo is only available to those with the money to purchase a suite at LandShark stadium, which alienates a large portion of the stadium’s fanbase, and fans in general. So…teams are obviously utilizing technology but it doesn’t seem like anyone has put it all together yet. What does the future of sports technology look like?

THE FUTURE OF SPORTS TECHNOLOGY

Interestingly enough, the future of sports technology already exists. And its already being used by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The product is the Yinzcam (Yinzcam.com). From the Yinzcam site,

YinzCam is a free experiential mobile video technology for sporting events. Using YinzCam right from their seats, fans can select/view live video feeds from unique camera angles, catch (and create their own) instant replays from multiple angles, access game-time information, player bios and personalized content, on their cellphones.

To access Yinzcam, all you need is a phone that can access a Wi-Fi network. The product has the ability to show fans different camera angles, essentially works like TiVo (less than 2 seconds after live-play), and allows the ability to access all the player content you can handle. I believe we may have stumbled upon the perfect use of technology for the next-generation fan. When I spoke with Yinzcam creator, Priya Narasimhan, an associate professor in Carnegie Mellon’s Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, she said that the average fan was exactly who she had in mind when creating the device,

I created this project because I love sports, and was looking to make the experience more enjoyable for the fans; give them something to enhance their experience.

Although, originally the product was specifically created to allow fans in the nosebleed seats a better experience, it has since expanded,

Imagining paying all this money to go to Yankee stadium, only to find out that you can’t see home plate from your seat? This product helps change that.

Again, you just need a Wi-Fi enabled phone, and you’re able to view the game as if you work in the production booth. Different angles, TiVo capabilities, it is the next generation of technology for the fan. And in the future? Imagine being able to view different camera angles inside the arena while being at your home. Priya says it’s possible,

The issue would be the laws regarding broadcasting. Right now, we only allow live content within the arena so as to comply with broadcasting laws. But if, in the future, a broadcasting deal was worked out and the project was picked up by a network (Someone from ESPN please read this…now. -Ed.) Then yinzcam could be viewed in other places outside the arena.

Think of the uses? Imagine being a fan watching a football game and checking the different replay angles to see if your favorite player scored a TD, even before the referee finished his review? Or just following your favorite player the whole game, regardless of the other action? Or looking at the various action on the sidelines? Then imagine doing all of that from your house while the game is going on…Isn’t it possible to see some sort of globalization of sports working under a model such as this? Which would enable targeted advertising, product sponsorships, etc.

Thanks to technology, sport can be found any and everywhere. Thanks to the future technology? sport can be found anywhere, any way you like it.

P.S. For those interested in learning more about Yinzcam, visit the site @ Yinzcam.com or on twitter www.twitter.com/yinzcam