How is technology transforming athletic training and performance. What are the key benefits of integrating tech tools in sports. How can data-driven approaches enhance athlete development. How does technology aid in injury prevention and recovery for athletes. What role does tech play in improving athletic technique and mental preparation.
Data-Driven Training: Unlocking Athletic Potential Through Analytics
In the modern era of sports, data-driven training has become a game-changer for athletes and coaches alike. By harnessing the power of technology, teams can now collect and analyze vast amounts of information to optimize performance and achieve peak results.
How does data-driven training work in practice? Athletes wear advanced fitness trackers and heart rate monitors during training sessions and competitions. These devices capture crucial metrics such as:
- Heart rate variability
- Calories burned
- Sleep patterns
- Movement patterns
- Acceleration and deceleration rates
Armed with this wealth of data, coaches can tailor training programs to each athlete’s specific needs, identifying areas for improvement and adjusting workloads accordingly. This personalized approach helps athletes reach their full potential while minimizing the risk of overtraining or underperforming.
The Power of Performance Analytics
Performance analytics tools take data-driven training to the next level. These sophisticated software platforms aggregate data from multiple sources, providing coaches and athletes with comprehensive insights into performance trends over time.
What insights can performance analytics provide? Here are some key benefits:
- Identifying strengths and weaknesses in an athlete’s performance
- Tracking progress towards specific goals
- Comparing performance metrics against benchmarks
- Predicting future performance based on historical data
- Optimizing training schedules and intensity levels
By leveraging these insights, teams can make data-backed decisions to improve athletic performance and gain a competitive edge.
Injury Prevention: Leveraging Technology to Keep Athletes in the Game
Preventing injuries is a top priority for athletes and sports organizations. Technology has revolutionized injury prevention strategies, allowing teams to identify and address potential issues before they become serious problems.
How does technology aid in injury prevention? Several cutting-edge tools and techniques are making a significant impact:
Motion Analysis Software
Advanced motion analysis software uses high-speed cameras and sophisticated algorithms to capture and analyze an athlete’s movements in real-time. This technology allows coaches and trainers to:
- Identify biomechanical inefficiencies
- Detect subtle changes in form that may lead to injury
- Provide immediate feedback for technique correction
- Track improvements in movement patterns over time
By addressing these issues early on, athletes can significantly reduce their risk of injury and improve overall performance.
Wearable Technology for Load Management
Wearable devices equipped with GPS and accelerometers provide valuable data on an athlete’s workload and physical stress. This information helps coaches and medical staff:
- Monitor training intensity and volume
- Identify fatigue levels and recovery needs
- Adjust training programs to prevent overuse injuries
- Implement personalized recovery strategies
By carefully managing an athlete’s workload, teams can strike the optimal balance between performance improvement and injury prevention.
Mental Preparation: Harnessing Virtual Reality for Peak Performance
The mental aspect of sports performance is often overlooked, but it can be the difference between victory and defeat. Virtual reality (VR) technology is emerging as a powerful tool for enhancing athletes’ mental preparation and performance under pressure.
How does VR benefit athletes’ mental preparation? Here are some key applications:
Scenario Simulation
VR allows athletes to immerse themselves in realistic competition scenarios, helping them:
- Familiarize themselves with unfamiliar venues or environments
- Practice decision-making under pressure
- Develop mental resilience and focus
- Reduce anxiety and performance jitters
By repeatedly experiencing high-pressure situations in a controlled environment, athletes can build confidence and perform at their best when it matters most.
Visualization Techniques
VR enhances traditional visualization techniques by providing a more immersive and interactive experience. Athletes can:
- Visualize successful performances in vivid detail
- Practice mental rehearsal of specific skills or routines
- Develop a stronger mind-body connection
- Improve focus and concentration
These enhanced visualization techniques can lead to improved performance outcomes and greater mental resilience in high-stakes situations.
Optimizing Recovery: Tech-Driven Approaches to Athletic Regeneration
Proper recovery is essential for maintaining peak athletic performance and preventing injuries. Technology has revolutionized recovery methods, providing athletes with advanced tools to optimize their bodies’ regenerative processes.
What are some cutting-edge recovery technologies used by top athletes? Let’s explore a few key innovations:
Cryotherapy Chambers
Cryotherapy exposes the body to extremely cold temperatures for short periods, offering benefits such as:
- Reduced inflammation and muscle soreness
- Improved blood circulation
- Enhanced recovery from intense training sessions
- Potential mood and energy level boosts
Many professional sports teams now incorporate cryotherapy chambers into their recovery protocols to help athletes bounce back faster between training sessions and competitions.
Compression Technology
Advanced compression garments and devices use pneumatic pressure to enhance recovery by:
- Improving blood flow and lymphatic drainage
- Reducing muscle swelling and soreness
- Accelerating the removal of metabolic waste products
- Promoting faster muscle repair and regeneration
Compression boots, in particular, have gained popularity among athletes for their ability to provide targeted recovery to the lower body after intense training or competition.
Sleep Tracking and Optimization
Quality sleep is crucial for athletic recovery and performance. Advanced sleep tracking devices help athletes:
- Monitor sleep duration and quality
- Identify sleep disruptions or patterns
- Optimize sleep environments for better rest
- Adjust sleep schedules to maximize recovery
By leveraging these technologies, athletes can ensure they’re getting the restorative sleep needed to perform at their best.
Technique Refinement: Using Technology to Perfect Athletic Form
Mastering proper technique is essential for maximizing athletic performance and minimizing injury risk. Advanced technology tools are revolutionizing the way athletes and coaches approach technique refinement.
How can technology help athletes improve their form and technique? Let’s explore some innovative approaches:
3D Motion Capture Analysis
3D motion capture systems use multiple high-speed cameras to create detailed, three-dimensional models of an athlete’s movements. This technology offers several benefits:
- Precise measurement of joint angles and body positions
- Identification of subtle inefficiencies in movement patterns
- Comparison of an athlete’s technique to ideal models
- Tracking of improvements over time
By analyzing these detailed models, coaches can provide targeted feedback and develop specific drills to address technical flaws.
Force Plate Analysis
Force plates measure the ground reaction forces produced during athletic movements, providing valuable insights into:
- Power output and force production
- Balance and stability
- Weight distribution during different phases of movement
- Asymmetries between left and right sides of the body
This data helps athletes and coaches identify areas for improvement in technique and develop targeted strength and conditioning programs.
Velocity-Based Training (VBT) Devices
VBT devices measure the speed of movement during strength training exercises, allowing coaches to:
- Optimize training loads for specific performance goals
- Monitor fatigue and readiness to train
- Identify strength imbalances or technique issues
- Provide immediate feedback on movement quality
By incorporating VBT into their training programs, athletes can ensure they’re always working at the optimal intensity to improve their technique and performance.
Collaborative Performance Enhancement: Leveraging Technology for Team Synergy
In the world of high-performance sports, effective collaboration between athletes, coaches, trainers, and medical staff is crucial for success. Technology has revolutionized the way teams communicate, share information, and work together to achieve common goals.
How does technology facilitate collaboration in sports? Let’s explore some key areas:
Cloud-Based Performance Management Systems
Cloud-based platforms serve as centralized hubs for all performance-related data and communication. These systems offer several advantages:
- Real-time sharing of training plans and workout data
- Seamless communication between team members
- Integration of data from multiple sources (e.g., wearables, fitness tests, medical records)
- Customizable dashboards for different team roles
By using these platforms, teams can ensure that everyone is aligned and working towards the same objectives.
Video Analysis and Sharing Tools
Advanced video analysis software allows coaches and athletes to collaborate on technique refinement and tactical analysis. Key features include:
- Easy sharing of annotated video clips
- Side-by-side comparison of different performances
- Integration with performance data for comprehensive analysis
- Remote coaching and feedback capabilities
These tools enable teams to leverage the expertise of coaches and analysts, regardless of physical location.
Injury Management and Return-to-Play Protocols
Technology plays a crucial role in managing injuries and facilitating safe returns to competition. Collaborative platforms help teams:
- Track injury history and recovery progress
- Coordinate rehabilitation programs between medical staff and coaches
- Monitor return-to-play metrics and milestones
- Ensure smooth transitions back to full training and competition
By maintaining comprehensive historical data and facilitating cross-functional communication, these systems help athletes return to play safely and efficiently.
The Future of Sports Technology: Emerging Trends and Innovations
As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, the world of sports performance is poised for even more revolutionary changes. What emerging trends and innovations can we expect to see in the coming years?
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
AI and machine learning algorithms are set to transform sports performance analysis and decision-making. Potential applications include:
- Predictive injury prevention models
- Automated tactical analysis and game planning
- Personalized training program optimization
- Real-time performance adjustments based on in-game data
As these technologies become more sophisticated, they will provide teams with unprecedented insights and competitive advantages.
Augmented Reality (AR) Training
AR technology has the potential to revolutionize skill development and tactical training. Future applications may include:
- Overlay of performance data and cues during live practice sessions
- Interactive tactical simulations for team sports
- Real-time technique feedback and correction
- Enhanced visualization of complex plays and strategies
AR training tools will allow athletes to receive immediate, visual feedback on their performance, accelerating the learning process.
Genetic Testing and Personalized Training
Advancements in genetic testing and analysis may lead to highly personalized training and nutrition programs. Potential benefits include:
- Identification of genetic predispositions to certain injuries or performance traits
- Tailored nutrition plans based on individual genetic profiles
- Optimized training programs that account for genetic strengths and weaknesses
- More accurate talent identification and development strategies
While ethical considerations must be carefully addressed, genetic insights could revolutionize the way athletes train and perform.
Brain-Computer Interfaces
Emerging brain-computer interface (BCI) technology may offer new frontiers in sports performance enhancement. Potential applications include:
- Direct neural feedback for improved motor learning
- Enhanced focus and concentration training
- Real-time cognitive performance optimization
- Novel approaches to injury rehabilitation and recovery
As BCI technology advances, it could provide athletes with unprecedented control over their mental and physical performance.
The integration of technology into sports performance continues to push the boundaries of human potential. As these emerging trends evolve and new innovations arise, athletes, coaches, and sports organizations must stay informed and adaptable to maintain their competitive edge. The future of sports technology promises to be an exciting journey of discovery and performance enhancement, reshaping the way we train, compete, and experience athletic achievement.
Technology for Athletic Performance
In the modern era of sports, technology has become an integral part of athlete training and performance. With advancements in science and technology, athletes have access to a wide range of tools and devices that can help improve their overall performance. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of using technology for athletic performance and how it can help athletes reach their full potential.
DATA-DRIVEN TRAINING
One of the most significant benefits of using technology for athletic performance is the ability to collect and analyze data. By using tools such as fitness trackers and heart rate monitors, athletes can track various aspects of their training, including their heart rate, calories burned, and sleep patterns. With this information, coaches and athletes can tailor their training to meet their specific needs and make necessary adjustments to optimize their performance. By collecting data and analyzing it, athletes can also identify areas of weakness and work on improving those areas.
INJURY PREVENTION
Another significant benefit of using technology for athletic performance is injury prevention. With the help of tools such as motion analysis software, coaches and trainers can identify potential issues with an athlete’s form and technique. By making adjustments and addressing these issues early on, athletes can reduce their risk of injury and improve their overall performance. Technology can also be used to monitor an athlete’s workload and make necessary adjustments to prevent overuse injuries.
MENTAL PREPARATION
Technology can also be used to help athletes prepare mentally for competitions. Virtual reality technology, for example, can be used to simulate competition scenarios and help athletes visualize and mentally prepare for these situations. By reducing anxiety and improving mental preparedness, athletes can perform at their best when it matters most.
RECOVERY
Another important aspect of athletic performance is recovery. Athletes need to recover properly after training and competitions to perform at their best. Technology can be used to monitor an athlete’s recovery and make necessary adjustments to their training and nutrition to optimize recovery. Tools such as cryotherapy chambers and compression boots can also help to speed up recovery and reduce inflammation. Additionally, maintaining historical data via technology can help coaches understand if athletes are underperforming, or overperforming based on the time of year. This in turn can help coaches modify training sessions and tailor programs based on athlete performance.
Using readiness assessments from force plates, VBT devices like Perch, testing grip strength or jump height, can help inform ability. And recovering with proper nutrition, hydration, and even cold tubs, or compression boots or massage guns can help.
IMPROVING TECHNIQUE
Technology can also be used to help athletes improve their technique. Motion analysis software, for example, can be used to identify potential issues with an athlete’s form and provide recommendations for improvement. Video analysis tools can also be used to review an athlete’s technique and identify areas for improvement. Even velocity based training devices can help coaches identify where an athlete may be deficient, and help them coach more effectively to improve technique.
COLLABORATION
Technology can also facilitate collaboration between coaches, trainers, and athletes. With the use of cloud-based software, coaches and trainers can share training plans, workout data, and other important information with athletes. This can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals. This is especially important when dealing with return to play or injuries. Ensuring historic data is maintained, and athletes can return to play safely and efficiently is paramount in athletics. Being able to work cross functionally across departments is huge, and technology can help enable this.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the use of technology has become increasingly important for athletic performance from work in the weight room to on the field of play. It can help athletes collect and analyze data, prevent injuries, improve mental preparation, optimize recovery, improve technique, and facilitate collaboration. With the help of technology, athletes can reach their full potential and perform at their best when it matters most.
SOURCES
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Gokeler, A., Welling, W., Benjaminse, A., Lemmink, K., & Seil, R. (2019). Sport injury prevention research—what are we missing? Sports Medicine, 49(11), 1749-1756.
Halson, S. L. (2014). Monitoring training load to understand fatigue in athletes. Sports Medicine, 44(2), 139-147.
Hulteen, R. M., Smith, J. J., Morgan, P. J., Barnett, L. M., Hallal, P. C., Colyvas, K., & Lubans, D. R. (2015). Global participation in sport and leisure-time physical activities: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine, 81, 258-267.
Povolotskiy, R., Karpova, A., Galashova, T., Kostyukov, A., & Lyakhovetskiy, V. (2018). Application of virtual reality technology in sports training. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1015(1), 012042.
Sánchez-Moreno, J., García-Manso, J. M., & Rodríguez-Marroyo, J. A. (2017). Use of wearable technology in elite soccer: a systematic review. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 16(4), 548-562.
How Technology is Revolutionizing Sports Training
In the past, sports training required extensive paperwork and post-practice effort from both the trainer and the athlete. While the athlete practiced, notes and video were diligently taken and then collated into charts and graphs representing that athlete’s performance. After practice, trainer and athlete would work together discussing aches, pains, and thoughts about physical movements that happened much earlier. The system was grueling, but worked as far as athletes and trainers knew. That is until recent technology transformed the field of sports training.
Advanced technology has become smaller, more resilient, and less burdensome over recent years, paving the way for new opportunities, especially in athletics. Now athletes wear sensors that convey real-time information to a trainer’s tablet, GPS accurately pinpoints motion, smartphones keep everyone current and wearable tech can prevent injuries. Compared to whiteboards and post-practice reviews, technology has substantially increased athletic potential.
Technology is revolutionizing sports training by live-tracking performances, perfecting athletic movements, enhancing communication and virtually eliminating injuries.
Tracking Performance
Using sensors placed on the body or in “smart clothing” (active wear with sensing fibers woven in), sports trainers can measure and track performance in real time. Almost anything about the athlete can be measured, from breathing and heart rate, to hydration and temperature.
These live metrics can help the trainer determine what aspects each athlete needs to focus on more. Athletes are unique, and real-time individual performance measurements can set a more precise and accurate baseline. During practice, trainers can read live metrics and decide when it’s time to rest, stretch or train harder.
Lasers and GPS have been incorporated into various aspects of the sports training world. Instead of relying on times and splits, trainers can measure the exact position, distance, velocity and acceleration of athletes to better understand where they can improve. Identifying more intricate data leads to improved performance with less stress and chance for injury.
Perfecting Athletic Movements
Mounir Zok, the Director of Technology and Innovation for the U.S. Olympic Commission, has watched technology change and mold sports for the better. He claims that sports technology is so advanced that it can create a ‘digital code’ for winning the gold medal. What he means is: data collected and compared can ultimately translate into a gold medal performance. Technology has increased an athlete’s prowess simply because it magnifies performance-related actions and events that have been previously unseen.
For example, cyclists can wear heads-up display (HUD) glasses that flawlessly deliver heartrate, speed, incline and other relevant cycling information. Metrics such as these can help the cyclist focus and improve because they can make adjustments mid ride.
Swimmers and divers participate in an extremely technical sport and have adapted sensors into their practices as well. When swimming or diving, the sensors measure more than the usual time and effort metrics. They map movements like rotational speed, dive angle, leg movement and hydrodynamics. Observing movements like this is groundbreaking, and allows trainers to help athletes perfect their movements. They may only shave milliseconds off their performance, but a millisecond in a race can be all the difference.
Enhancing Communication
Applications such as YouTube have also enhanced communication during training. Countless hours of workouts and game plays can be found by anyone and shared just as quickly through YouTube. To bolster education through watching film or discussing plays, athletes and trainers can upload and watch the necessary videos during practice or on their own time.
Communication has been further enhanced by other applications such as My Fitness Pal, a personal digital health, diet and exercise journal that can be accessed on a smartphone or computer. Trainers can keep track of athletes by checking their daily diet via My Fitness Pal, and athletes will have personal accountability to their training. It’s similar to a social media site except that it’s specific to exercise and athletes, coaches and trainers can interact with their input health information.
Eliminating Injuries
Perhaps the most important byproduct of technology in sports training is that injuries have been severely reduced and now can be identified much earlier. Tracking performance, perfecting movements and enhancing communication are not only benefits; they actually help create less injury-prone environments.
Training management software can assist coaches and trainers in monitoring all aspects of training: diet, energy, sleep, etc. When coaches and trainers can define individual practice for optimum results, they are preventing fatigue and self-created injuries. Besides outside variables that cannot be accounted for, the future may some day see injury-free athletics.
About Ohio University’s Online Master of Athletic Administration Degree
Ohio University’s online MAA program is designed to teach professionals how to manage the many changes in interscholastic sports. The university launched the nation’s first academic program in sports administration in 1966 and continues to be a leader in sports business education.
Ohio University’s online MAA program is housed within the university’s College of Business, underscoring the university’s dedication to providing world-class sports business education.
The program works in collaboration with the National Intercollegiate Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) to prepare graduates for certification and is accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). For more information, contact an enrollment advisor at Ohio University.
Sources:
Cloud Technology is a Game Changer for Athlete Training and Health
From the Olympics to the NFL the Future of Training is Wearable Tech
My Fitness Pal
The future is already here: how technology is changing big sport
Entertainment
GQ talks about unusual technologies and gadgets that have already changed the competition, and answers the main question: what will happen next?
org/Person”> Vadim Roshchin
SOPA Images
There are two reasons for the emergence of new technologies in elite sports: improving results and the need to record these results. One pulls the other. A great example is tennis. At 19In the 80s, new rackets made of graphite began to be massively used in this sport, and the strings began to look like a thin, but very strong wire. Such rackets were significantly lighter than the previous aluminum and wooden rackets, which led to a sharp increase in speeds on the court. So, the speed of the ball when serving has already overcome the mark of 200 km / h.
Ilya Alekhin
Director of Gym, World Class
In my opinion, most interesting technologies are now appearing among applications, fitness gadgets, home equipment with virtual and online workouts. Video analysis is often used, artificial intelligence is integrated. New technologies help create devices for post-workout recovery.
TRX Maps
The system for analyzing the state of the musculoskeletal system allows, based on just three squats, to identify what the athlete’s body lacks and draw up a suitable training program.
Percussion massage
Various devices are used for it: guns, spheres, rolls, balls. They contribute to the rapid recovery of muscles after training, the prevention of injuries, relaxation of the body after sports.
World Class Coach apps
Personal/self-training app with remote coach control. The mentor draws up a training program, and you receive it in your application, complete it, noting all the results. The trainer sees your activity and corrects the program in a timely manner.
Peloton
A company that has become the largest player in the home fitness equipment market with a capitalization of more than $50 billion in just a year. The pandemic prompted users to look for interesting offers in the market, and they found Peloton for themselves. This brand not only sells cardio equipment for practicing at home, but also offers to purchase a course of online lessons for the most effective workouts.
Analysis
Treadmills and exercise bikes analyze biomechanics, how the athlete moves, how the right / left side works, with what efficiency, where there are dips. In professional sports, this information allows you to improve the result much faster. In fitness, such information is also very useful for achieving the goal.
One of the participants of the first cybathlon world championship in Switzerland – British Johnny Timms
MICHAEL BUHOLZER
In the next ten years, the sports and fitness industry is expected to increase in popularity. In many countries of the world there is a problem with physical inactivity due to a sedentary lifestyle. Going in for sports in such a situation is an effective and simple way to avoid serious health problems. Technology is bound to have a big impact on the fitness industry. The more users of the corresponding applications and gadgets, the faster this direction will develop.
Most likely, systems that analyze the work of the heart, respiratory and cardiovascular systems using a smartphone will be improved, this has already been partially implemented. Already now the competitions are held in an online format, I think that over time there will be even more such competitions.
In the long term, the use of artificial intelligence as a coach seems to be absolutely real. Most likely, in 30–50 years, the technologies familiar to us today will remain.
For example, perhaps there will be a way to evaluate, using video surveillance, how fitness club visitors exercise on simulators, to obtain information about incorrectly performing exercises. Notification of such an event will be sent to the smartphone of the coach on duty or the athlete himself. The emergence of such technology will help make training more effective.
Of course, separate fitness ecosystems will appear that can solve all issues in the life of a person who is fond of sports in one place: training, equipment, equipment, nutrition, medicine, travel, social networks.
Electronic “eyes”
It was not only tennis players who had to change their style of play and improve their physical shape because of these innovations. The referees simply did not have time to follow the game. Then electronic tracking and statistics systems appeared. One of the most popular such technologies for tennis is FOXTENN Top Real Precision, or “Fox”, which monitors the court with 44 HD cameras and ten lasers. Five servers process the received information with an accuracy of millimeters and milliseconds, after which they display the information on an external monitor.
“Fox” was able to replace the linesmen on the court, as even a few attentive eyes following the game are not able to compete with electronics. In addition, the system collects information about each tennis player: running and serving speed, trajectory of movement on the court and other information for the database of players. A similar technology is used in the American NBA basketball championship. All players on the court are monitored by cameras, and the information obtained from them is used by the team coaches. A kind of auto-repeat, but with statistics already prepared in advance.
By the way, the use of replays from cameras to resolve disputes is probably the most famous example of the use of new technologies in sports. Many fans mistakenly believe that this practice was originally introduced in football or basketball. But for the first time, video replays began to be used in cricket to deal with judicial errors. Moreover, an analogue of the Fox tracking system called Hawkeye was first used in this sport.
Technical doping
With video replays recognized as a legitimate judging tool, the referee’s job has become easier and the number of errors reduced. But progress works much more actively for the benefit of athletes. New technologies and materials are making it possible to produce ever more advanced equipment, and many of these innovations have a significant impact on entire sports. One of these devices is the RZR Laser swimming suit, the introduction of which has significantly improved the results of athletes who dared to put on new generation equipment. The main difference between the “Laser” and other suits is the absence of seams (such a “swimsuit” is made using ultrasonic welding). Equally important are the materials: due to the use of interlaced threads of elastane-nylon and polyurethane, oxygen is supplied to the muscles in large quantities. The new suit was so good that it was banned a few years after it appeared on the market, recognizing it as “technical doping”.
In speed skating, athletes’ clothing also plays a huge role. Costumes for the world’s fastest skaters are made using motion capture technology. Electronics reads the parameters of a particular athlete, after which a 3D plastic model of the athlete is created, which is “blown through” in a wind tunnel. Only after that, the system models a personal suit, taking into account all individual parameters.
The All-Seeing Eye
Along with advanced technologies, professional sports also use familiar gadgets. For example, fitness bracelets. For athletes, however, they are special. These are special sensors that are used during training. Devices attached to the body of an athlete record the pulse, pressure, and even the production of a number of substances by the body. The received data is entered into a common database and analyzed. Up-to-date information about the condition of each athlete allows the coach to decide what load to give to the wards and which of them is better prepared for the competition.
Data analysis systems will progress not only in professional sports, but also in the fitness segment. In the coming years, not only coaches, but also ordinary people who play sports on weekends will be able to receive a vast amount of data with ready-made analytics. The future promises much more interesting and incredible inventions that can seriously change the sports familiar to everyone. Many of them relate to sports equipment. It will not only be improved due to new materials and technologies, everything is much more serious.
Cyborgs vs Mutants
The first Cyborg competition was held in Switzerland back in 2016. Cyborgs are people with disabilities who use special technical means. In the future, high-tech rehabilitation means, exoskeletons and mechanical prostheses, which allow people with disabilities to live a full life and play sports, may become actively used. The mass use of the developments obtained in this area to create devices that help improve sports performance is extremely likely in the coming years.
Technological advances are already having a tangible impact not only on sports, but also on the fitness industry.
Another possible type of future athletes is the so-called mutants, people with altered genes. The technology for such manipulations already exists, and it is called CRISPR. Initially, it was developed to treat people with congenital diseases by adjusting DNA. In the case of the mass introduction of this practice, humanity is waiting for the emergence of a new type of athlete – with improved characteristics for certain purposes. For example, very fast in running, enduring in lifting weights, or hardly feeling pain. Naturally, ordinary people will not be able to compete on equal terms with “mutants” and “cyborgs”, so separate competitions will be created for new athletes, more spectacular than we are used to.
Robot Championship
Another prediction is the emergence of separate leagues and even sports for robots. The success of the same developers from Boston Dynamics show that such a turn of events is quite likely. Sooner or later, humanity will decide to hold high-level robot competitions for its own fun, and such entertainment will most likely be successful. Moreover, the topic of such competitions has been raised more than once in popular culture. One of the most famous examples is the film “Real Steel”, where humanoid robots fought each other in the ring. By the way, football tournaments with the participation of teams consisting entirely of robots have been held for two decades. However, in terms of entertainment, these games cannot yet compete with “human” football matches.
In the coming decades, not only new sports will appear, but also very unusual athletes.
Further development of technology will lead to the emergence of new sports. In particular, racing on unusual vehicles. For example, on jetpacks. Manufacturers of these “jetpacks” are constantly improving their products, and enthusiasts perform risky stunts like flying near airplanes. Other technological devices can also become sports equipment. An excellent example from motorsport is electric car racing, which has turned from experimental races into the Formula E racing series with its own championship and the participation of the world’s largest automotive brands.
Danila Medvedev
Futurologist
In 50 years, the very need to influence the human body through fitness or sports may disappear. It will disappear because in the coming years there may be tools to manage all the processes that occur during sports. Building muscle mass, reshaping the body – all this can be done at the touch of a button.
The boundaries of the possibilities of the human body will expand greatly. Now athletes are in relatively equal conditions, but in a few decades the situation may change dramatically. This is already happening now – the other day, the director of science at Roscosmos announced that the possibility of genetic modification of cosmonauts to prepare them for flights into deep space will be considered this year.
The first electric car races in the Formula E series were held in 2014, and now almost all famous brands take part in these competitions.
Within 10-15 years, flights to other planets may become a reality, by which time the possibility of serious interference with the body through DNA editing will also be real. And in another 15 years, ordinary people will have access to such technologies. Even according to conservative forecasts, in about 30 years we will have the ability to control the body.
Where does this lead? In 50 years, a resident of any developed country will have the opportunity to command anything to his body. Therefore, sports competitions in their current form will disappear. Only sports similar to Formula 1 racing will remain, and perhaps some virtual reality games. Something remotely similar to modern esports, but on a different level.
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Sports and physical culture are an integral and important part of today’s life. Trackers for monitoring the state of the body, smart fitness equipment, systems for analyzing sports performance, gadgets with virtual and augmented reality functions and other technologies have long become part of the global sports industry. Increasingly, there are new products that help sports enthusiasts improve their health, control the body and achieve better results. But how can a developer of a device or application for sports find a customer or investor? Industry forums of the Moscow Innovation Agency are held in the capital for the interaction of technology business with the city and large businesses. At them, developer companies present their products and services, and the most promising solutions get into the pilot testing program for innovative solutions and are tested in real conditions on the grounds of sports clubs, sections and federations, stadiums, tracks and courts.
Everything starts from the city forum
City Industry Forum “Innovations in Sports and Healthy Lifestyle” was held in the Digital Business Space. It was organized by the Moscow Innovation Agency, subordinated to the Moscow Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development. A distinctive feature of the event was the exposition, within which more than 90 unique solutions were presented – from IT services and mobile applications to simulators and special equipment that allow athletes to improve their health and improve the training process. The exposition included a simulator for preventive security of extreme athletes, an online booking service for sports facilities, an application for the development of amateur sports, as well as domestic mobile applications for developing individual nutrition programs.
The city industry forum “Innovations in sports and a healthy lifestyle” was held in the Digital Business Space
Many of the developments presented at the forum were later included in the program of pilot testing of innovative solutions. This is a service launched by the Moscow government in 2020 that allows developers to test their products and services in real conditions on the sites of city and commercial organizations.
More than 140 urban and commercial sites in 18 industry areas have become participants in the pilot testing program. In addition to sports, these are medicine, education, information technology, manufacturing and others. At the moment, 36 pilot tests are underway.
Thanks to the program, high-tech companies can get acquainted with potential consumers and customers, get an expert assessment of the uniqueness and competitiveness of the solution. In turn, organizations on whose sites tests are carried out can get acquainted with advanced technologies free of charge and compare them with analogues existing on the market. Thus, sports federations, schools and clubs of the city, stadiums and sports societies that are participants in the program have already acted as platforms for the application of IT developments.
Exercise equipment and fitness bracelets: what developments are being tested in Moscow?
Pilot testing of a VR simulator, with the help of which athletes can develop muscle memory and motor skills necessary for a successful fight, is being considered by the Russian Fencing Federation. The Russian Luge Federation will test the operation of smart fitness bracelets. The developers promise that these devices will help athletes adjust their training and nutrition by collecting and analyzing certain data, including statistics on physical activity and sleep. And in the boxing club “Udarnik” they have already appreciated the fitness tracker for training the reaction speed and punch rate. This gadget is fixed on a punching bag and monitors the athlete’s speed and power characteristics in real time, which allows you to quickly adjust the training process.
For football players, one of the promising technologies is the neurogaming simulator developed in the Saratov region. It is designed to increase the strength and accuracy of impact due to the development of motor areas of the brain. “Its functionality looks to the future, where information technologies should be actively used in the preparation of football players. The main task of this simulator is to improve these skills on the field by using the motor areas in the brain and trying to implement gaming activities while sitting in front of the monitor. According to the developers, such actions as accuracy and power of hitting the goal can be improved by 30 percent,” said the sports director of the capital’s football school for children from three to 16 years of the Championika network Vadim Kozlov . He expects that the introduction of advanced developments into the training process will have a positive effect on future football players.
Gadgets with virtual and augmented reality features have long been part of the global sports industry.
“The training methodology of our schools is built on the use of modern approaches in football, European methods and innovations. The decision to take part in the innovation pilot testing program was justified by the desire to provide students with a modern education and the most effective tools for developing gaming qualities. We believe this program is very useful — it allows you to evaluate new technologies in real training with test groups, see the results, compatibility with our methodology, and makes it possible to integrate these solutions into training,” added the director of the football school of the Championika network.
The second gadget for young athletes will contribute to the development of the child’s cognitive skills, the ability to control various visual areas in front of him with central and peripheral vision and quickly make the right decisions. According to Vadim Kozlov, these abilities play a decisive role in football, where it is necessary to quickly respond to a changing situation.
The Taekwondo Federation (ITF) of Russia plans to test a mobile application that will teach the program how to be a coach or a sports referee. “We have been able to reformulate our needs from finding simple solutions for online sports to complex products using artificial intelligence technology. Right now, a team is being formed that will teach the machine (program) to be a coach and even a sports referee! Literally in the next year or two, this will make both training and tournaments both more interesting and comfortable, as well as better and more objective,” said the Deputy Chairman of the Board for Digital Transformation of the Russian Taekwondo Federation (ITF) Maxim Gritchenko .
Product development will take several months, and in 2022 it will be on the market. The authors of the project, IT specialists from Moscow and Novosibirsk, will conduct online testing.
“This will allow people to practice and compete anywhere at almost any time, which can be especially important during the period of sanitary and epidemiological restrictions. In addition, this will save significant funds on the mere movement of groups of athletes and fans around the country and around the world. At the initial stage of testing, it is planned to attract from several tens to several hundred athletes, when the product is launched on the market, thousands of athletes in all corners of Russia will be able to do this, and if we talk about the whole world, millions of people,” says Maxim Gritchenko.
The Taekwondo Federation became a participant in the innovation pilot testing program in November 2020. Its representatives are regular participants in events held by the Moscow Innovation Agency. Among them are various forums, thematic round tables and conferences.
“In parallel with the events, exhibitions of innovative products were organized, presentations of start-ups, innovative products and solutions in the field of sports were held. Thanks to these events, it is possible to exchange information about new products, trends, opinions on the most important issues with colleagues, potential suppliers, specialized government agencies, ideas and ways to implement them appear, like-minded people and partners are found,” Maxim Gritchenko added.
Rowing Federation Considers Craniocerebral Therapeutic Hypothermia Device for Testing
The Rowing Federation is considering a craniocerebral therapeutic hypothermia apparatus for testing. The method of controlled cooling is a non-invasive method that can prevent the death of neurons, lengthen the period of reversible changes and reduce the severity of brain damage in various pathological conditions characterized by an increase in its temperature.