AR and VR in sports: present and future
The search for effective solutions in the field of the training process, sports marketing and activities for fans is increasingly leading to the use of virtual and additional reality tools. Interestingly, not everyone believes in the future of AR and VR in the sports industry. Traditional skeptics believe that interest in these technologies is temporary, and argue that VR, for example, can seriously develop, only in the adult industry.
The current moment is key in the development of these technologies in general, and their application in sports in particular. In this post, I will try to analyze those sports areas in which augmented reality and virtual reality are especially in demand at the moment, and, obviously, will develop in the future.
If we talk about the possibilities of AR and VR for the training process, then a significant result was achieved by the German development team, which is preparing for release a training cognitive-tactical soccer simulator SoccerBot360. The developers used the classic scheme of the training complex in the form of an arena. The arena is round, on its walls (with a total area of 80 sq. Meters) Full HD images of targets are projected or also training locations in the form of a virtual match with models of players and the forest, where you need to hit the ball between branches, etc.
Several high-speed cameras track the movement of the ball and the player (according to the cameras, speed, direction, power of blows, as well as which leg was used in this case, are estimated). Depending on the speed and direction of movement of the ball, the system establishes the possible trajectories of its flight, the efficiency of the pass to virtual players in a virtual match. The data obtained from the cameras is analyzed by the complex, and the system real-time evaluates the results of the blows, the player’s effectiveness in certain situations and projects the result onto the wall, for example, showing the trajectory of the further movement of the ball. The complex can train one or more players. Currently, software and virtual tasks are being finalized, as well as a system for evaluating the effectiveness and predicting the direction of the ball upon impact is being improved. The SoccerBot360 project is being developed by Umbrella Software Development GmbH from Leipzig.
The experience of VR Beyond Sports, which works with football clubs such as Arsenal, is also indicative. The company creates immersive training modes. VR Technology using virtual reality glasses has already been tested by the NFL as a training tool for players during the post-traumatic recovery period. According to Beyond Sports Business Director Sander Schouten, such systems can improve the tactical training of young and injured players who can analyze the match scenario by participating in it using virtual reality. Experts also note that the physical nature of the sport seriously limits the return of injured athletes to training facilities. VR technologies are now able to solve problems with early tactical training in cases of injuries.
A significant breakthrough in VR basketball can be considered the use of VR Brain Performance technology from SyncThing. SyncThink announced a collaboration with the Washington Wizards of the NBA back in February of this year. The team will use the equipment to get comprehensive data about the players' brains. In addition to traditional VR glasses, the set of equipment used will obviously include neural interfaces. The media reported that the team will use a whole series of tools and technologies from SyncThink, in particular, a tool for assessing fatigue. It is planned to monitor how fatigue affects the player’s brain during the season.
A non-trivial way to use VR was found in American football. A training program has been launched for junior American football teams this year, which allows VR to demonstrate what happens with craniocerebral injuries, demonstrate symptoms of concussion and help young athletes recognize them in a timely manner. The program is called CrashCourse and is jointly implemented by American Youth Football & Cheer, as well as TeachAids. American football, which is also sometimes called the sport of super athletes, even in youth competitions is associated with a high risk of traumatic brain injury. The program clearly demonstrates some symptoms, teaches safety standards and methods of self and mutual assistance in cases if the athlete is still injured.
Many remember that the 2018 BBC already used AR and VR technology to broadcast the World Cup. Viewers got a 360-degree review of the game. A British football club Liverpool is working on a similar project. The administration of the club understands that even at thousands of stadiums there is not always enough space for all fans, and not all places are successful. The club was thinking about using VR for more efficient broadcast of the match. Obviously, the VR fan base will be able to get impressions that are close to the stadiums, and possibly even stronger, since shooting will be carried out from more advantageous positions.
There is a high interest in using AR to interact with fans, support the loyalty of fans and the club. The first attempt of this kind is indicative - the use of AR at the 2015 Rugby World Championship. Then Blippar first used this technology in sports during the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. When scanning tickets for a match, interactive AR content was created that could be obtained using the Blippar application.
In 2017, fans of the Frickley Athletic football club from Yorkshire got the opportunity to use augmented reality systems. So, when scanning the program of gaming days, it was possible to view the highlights of previous games in the series.
AR also became interested in Russian football, so in August of this year FC Krasnodar introduced the official AR masks of fans for Instagram. The club has published a pilot version of AR-effects with their colors and symbols, which can be used by uploading photos or videos to Instagram Stories. A characteristic feature of the effects is a reaction to the user's emotions. The masks were developed by Quartex Group and the Dictator Bureau, and access is carried out using the special section “Effects” for subscribers of the Krasnodar FC account.
Now AR-technology is especially in demand among refereeing and officials of sports teams. For example, tennis fans are familiar with the Hawk-Eye system, which fixes the flight path of a tennis ball. However, not many people know that this seemingly modern system has existed since 2001.
And its use in sports such as cricket began. Today it is used by judges in twenty sports. Many football fans are also well aware that FC technology has solved the problem of the controversial offside position. Now to check the offside position it is enough to lay the offside line on the field and check where the players were.
Despite the conviction of skeptical citizens that stadiums are eternal and VR will never replace them - today we can say that glasses will compete with noisy and cramped arenas. AR is also increasingly becoming part of the practice of both the training process and sports marketing, and its use in refereeing is no longer considered to be something new.
Thus, today it can be guaranteed to state that virtual reality technologies most likely will not be able to completely replace the stands and the lively presence of the fans, but they will significantly relieve the stadiums. Also, systems based on the principles of complementary and virtual reality will help to organize the training process more efficiently, which, obviously, can improve sports results, add to the entertainment of existing sports, and, possibly, accelerate the emergence of new world records.
Used photos:
www.realitytechnologies.com/nbas-washington-wizards-use-syncthinks-vr-brain-performance-tech
www.bbc.com/sport/football/44038006
medium.com/hubilo-officil-blog/the-evolution-of-event-ticketing-d3041d6419a9
www.perfect-tennis.com/court-pace-index-explained
ki-news.ru/2019/09/13/fk-krasnodar-predstavil-firmennye-maski-dlya-instagram
readwrite.com/2017/11/08/4-ways-vr-changing-professional-sports
www.realitytechnologies.com/american-youth-football-cheer-enlists-teachaids-vr-crashcourse-to-learn-about-concussions
The current moment is key in the development of these technologies in general, and their application in sports in particular. In this post, I will try to analyze those sports areas in which augmented reality and virtual reality are especially in demand at the moment, and, obviously, will develop in the future.
Training process and new opportunities for athletes
If we talk about the possibilities of AR and VR for the training process, then a significant result was achieved by the German development team, which is preparing for release a training cognitive-tactical soccer simulator SoccerBot360. The developers used the classic scheme of the training complex in the form of an arena. The arena is round, on its walls (with a total area of 80 sq. Meters) Full HD images of targets are projected or also training locations in the form of a virtual match with models of players and the forest, where you need to hit the ball between branches, etc.
Several high-speed cameras track the movement of the ball and the player (according to the cameras, speed, direction, power of blows, as well as which leg was used in this case, are estimated). Depending on the speed and direction of movement of the ball, the system establishes the possible trajectories of its flight, the efficiency of the pass to virtual players in a virtual match. The data obtained from the cameras is analyzed by the complex, and the system real-time evaluates the results of the blows, the player’s effectiveness in certain situations and projects the result onto the wall, for example, showing the trajectory of the further movement of the ball. The complex can train one or more players. Currently, software and virtual tasks are being finalized, as well as a system for evaluating the effectiveness and predicting the direction of the ball upon impact is being improved. The SoccerBot360 project is being developed by Umbrella Software Development GmbH from Leipzig.
The experience of VR Beyond Sports, which works with football clubs such as Arsenal, is also indicative. The company creates immersive training modes. VR Technology using virtual reality glasses has already been tested by the NFL as a training tool for players during the post-traumatic recovery period. According to Beyond Sports Business Director Sander Schouten, such systems can improve the tactical training of young and injured players who can analyze the match scenario by participating in it using virtual reality. Experts also note that the physical nature of the sport seriously limits the return of injured athletes to training facilities. VR technologies are now able to solve problems with early tactical training in cases of injuries.
A significant breakthrough in VR basketball can be considered the use of VR Brain Performance technology from SyncThing. SyncThink announced a collaboration with the Washington Wizards of the NBA back in February of this year. The team will use the equipment to get comprehensive data about the players' brains. In addition to traditional VR glasses, the set of equipment used will obviously include neural interfaces. The media reported that the team will use a whole series of tools and technologies from SyncThink, in particular, a tool for assessing fatigue. It is planned to monitor how fatigue affects the player’s brain during the season.
A non-trivial way to use VR was found in American football. A training program has been launched for junior American football teams this year, which allows VR to demonstrate what happens with craniocerebral injuries, demonstrate symptoms of concussion and help young athletes recognize them in a timely manner. The program is called CrashCourse and is jointly implemented by American Youth Football & Cheer, as well as TeachAids. American football, which is also sometimes called the sport of super athletes, even in youth competitions is associated with a high risk of traumatic brain injury. The program clearly demonstrates some symptoms, teaches safety standards and methods of self and mutual assistance in cases if the athlete is still injured.
AR and VR for fans and referees
Many remember that the 2018 BBC already used AR and VR technology to broadcast the World Cup. Viewers got a 360-degree review of the game. A British football club Liverpool is working on a similar project. The administration of the club understands that even at thousands of stadiums there is not always enough space for all fans, and not all places are successful. The club was thinking about using VR for more efficient broadcast of the match. Obviously, the VR fan base will be able to get impressions that are close to the stadiums, and possibly even stronger, since shooting will be carried out from more advantageous positions.
There is a high interest in using AR to interact with fans, support the loyalty of fans and the club. The first attempt of this kind is indicative - the use of AR at the 2015 Rugby World Championship. Then Blippar first used this technology in sports during the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. When scanning tickets for a match, interactive AR content was created that could be obtained using the Blippar application.
In 2017, fans of the Frickley Athletic football club from Yorkshire got the opportunity to use augmented reality systems. So, when scanning the program of gaming days, it was possible to view the highlights of previous games in the series.
AR also became interested in Russian football, so in August of this year FC Krasnodar introduced the official AR masks of fans for Instagram. The club has published a pilot version of AR-effects with their colors and symbols, which can be used by uploading photos or videos to Instagram Stories. A characteristic feature of the effects is a reaction to the user's emotions. The masks were developed by Quartex Group and the Dictator Bureau, and access is carried out using the special section “Effects” for subscribers of the Krasnodar FC account.
Now AR-technology is especially in demand among refereeing and officials of sports teams. For example, tennis fans are familiar with the Hawk-Eye system, which fixes the flight path of a tennis ball. However, not many people know that this seemingly modern system has existed since 2001.
And its use in sports such as cricket began. Today it is used by judges in twenty sports. Many football fans are also well aware that FC technology has solved the problem of the controversial offside position. Now to check the offside position it is enough to lay the offside line on the field and check where the players were.
A bit about the future of AR and VR in sports
Despite the conviction of skeptical citizens that stadiums are eternal and VR will never replace them - today we can say that glasses will compete with noisy and cramped arenas. AR is also increasingly becoming part of the practice of both the training process and sports marketing, and its use in refereeing is no longer considered to be something new.
Thus, today it can be guaranteed to state that virtual reality technologies most likely will not be able to completely replace the stands and the lively presence of the fans, but they will significantly relieve the stadiums. Also, systems based on the principles of complementary and virtual reality will help to organize the training process more efficiently, which, obviously, can improve sports results, add to the entertainment of existing sports, and, possibly, accelerate the emergence of new world records.
Used photos:
www.realitytechnologies.com/nbas-washington-wizards-use-syncthinks-vr-brain-performance-tech
www.bbc.com/sport/football/44038006
medium.com/hubilo-officil-blog/the-evolution-of-event-ticketing-d3041d6419a9
www.perfect-tennis.com/court-pace-index-explained
ki-news.ru/2019/09/13/fk-krasnodar-predstavil-firmennye-maski-dlya-instagram
readwrite.com/2017/11/08/4-ways-vr-changing-professional-sports
www.realitytechnologies.com/american-youth-football-cheer-enlists-teachaids-vr-crashcourse-to-learn-about-concussions
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