Google Glass Capturing Professional Sports from a New Perspective
Google Glass is showing just how versatile of a product it is by showing up in the sports headlines during the past year, exciting the imagination of sports fans, gamers, and developers around the world. With the ability to capture video in high definition from a first-person perspective, Glass is paving the way for some very interesting changes in the way sports are recorded, studied, emulated, and played.
Forbes magazine has an article suggesting that Google Glass may even make football a safer sport by providing crucial data about the dynamics of sports injuries and movements. The term “in-helmet technology” has been used to describe a new type of high-tech sports analysis that will take place from a first-person view. This will likely lead to the development and improvement of sports video games that offer vastly superior first-person modes.
With the Oculus Rift pioneering the brave new world of 3-dimensional virtual reality, it's easy to see how advanced computing headsets like Google Glass could be used to provide valuable input in the creation of some very life-like basketball, football, baseball, hockey, boxing, and soccer video games that can thoroughly immerse the player in a realistic gameplay experience.
Google Glass also recently made a deal with Luxottica Group (the company that owns Ray-Ban and Oakley), so it won't be long before Glass is released to the public within stylish and safe sports frames.
The Sacramento Kings became the first professional sports team to broadcast an entire game through Google Glass against the Indiana Pacers on January 24th 2014. None of the players wore the headsets for obvious safety and visual reasons, but the announcers, officials, and even cheerleaders and mascots were given the opportunity to be used as first-person courtside cameras. Ironically, the Pacers themselves then went on to become the second sports team to broadcast using Google Glass against the Miami Heat on March 26th.
In addition to the above news, check out our round up of the top 5 ways Google Glass could potentially change the way we experience professional sports in the future:
1. Diverse Broadcasting Angles
First, people watching games will be able to enjoy a wide spectrum of camera angles that are much closer and more realistic than the conventional high-end production camera. A Google Glass camera view will feel more likely being at the event in person, so you could technically have front row seats from home. Viewers will most likely be given the option to choose their own Glass camera angle or switch to traditional angles.
2. Highly Accurate Officiating
Glass will let officials replay specific events in slow-motion and from every possible angle, so any time there is a review on a play we can all be sure that the officials will have all the visual data they need to make the right call. Eventually, rule-tracking apps may be developed to assist officials in noticing potential violations and movements of interest.
3. Automated Stat Tracking
Officials, scorekeepers, and announcers will all be able to participate in logging real-time statistics through the Glass interface. There are already plenty of stat-tracking apps available for mobile devices. Glass will increase the accuracy of the statistical records by allowing for accurate review of questionable plays, while also giving fans a live feed of stats in real-time as the game is occurring.
4. Private, Portable, and Convenient Sports Watching
With a pair of stylish Google Glass sunglasses on you won't even need to pull out your phone, tablet, or laptop to check the latest highlights or watch your favorite games live. You would simply glance at the Glass window in the corner of your glasses and the visual effect would be the same as viewing a 25 inch display from 8 feet away. Display sizes and resolutions will probably vary and improve in time as well.
5. Exploring and Navigating Sports Arenas and Venues
Finally, actually going to see a game live can be a very confusing, frustrating, and time-consuming experience if you're not familiar with the sports arena or venue that the game is taking place at. You usually have to arrive an hour early just to make sure you can get refreshments and find your seats on time. Imagine showing up at the venue knowing the exact location and directions to your favorite restaurant in the arena, conveniently followed by directions to your seats, all in a simple Google Maps-like interface within a pair of standard, prescription, sunglass, or sports frames.
