Technology is now an integrated part of our life, and whether we like it or hate it, we can’t deny that it has many advantages across many disciplines. One of the most surprising fields where new technologies are taking over, is the field of sports. Sports and tech don’t really go hand in hand as people who are very active, spend little time indoors and are not so connected with new technologies. However, technology is slowly but steadily taking over the world of sports. And while there may take some time until athletes will be able to train in virtual realities, there are many affordable innovations that can improve the functionality of sports centers. In what follows, we will discuss just a few gadgets and gizmos that can be beneficial to athletes or which can improve sports facilities.
For sports centers
Digital scoring tables are perhaps the most obvious use of technology in a sport center. The great thing about these scorer tables is that they have many purposes. They can be used to keep the audience engaged by displaying messages about the game, information about the players or special animations in key moments during games. They can also be used to make money through advertising. Although digital scoring tables debuted in impressive basketball courts where NBA games were played, nowadays they are very common and affordable, and they can even be found in school gymnasiums. Another cool technology that can improve a sports center is a central control system which can remotely control different elements such as the lights, electric folding basketball backstops, electric gym divider curtains and many other elements. It is basically the sport center equivalent of a smart home.
For fitness enthusiasts
Obviously, the most popular and perhaps the most useful gadget for fitness enthusiasts is the fitness tracker, a small bracelet which can track different indicators of physical activity such as number of steps, running speed, burnt calories and much more. For those looking to shed some fat and build more muscle mass, a body fat analyzer can also come in handy. This device is basically, a scale which uses some electrical impulses in order to measure a person’s body fat percentage or muscle mass. There are also some treadmills which can be connected to google maps and allow you to virtually run around the world.
Training aids for athletes
As we said, we still have a long way to go until athletes will be able to train in virtual realities. Nonetheless, there are many training aids that can be found nowadays, in order to help different athletes improve their performance. For example, golf players can try golf swing analyzers. These small gadgets can be mounted either on the golf club or a glove, and they can measure different swing parameters in order to help players improve their swing. Similar devices can also be found in other sports. For example, an analyzer for baseball players which is mounted on the bat and measures parameters such as the bat speed or the attack angle. There is also an option for basketball players which consists of a gadget installed inside a special basketball.
