Year End
Coolest moves in tech
In the fast-moving world of technology, these developments were worth stopping for another look
On-court/ice projections
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Philadelphia 76ers fans are treated to some 3-D fun.
Photo by: Quince Imaging |
Strobe lights and lasers are so yesterday. New projection technology can use courts and rinks as a three-dimensional palette and take the game experience into a new realm. The technology provides many “wow” moments and allows teams to show off their creative chops in new and dramatic ways.
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| Photo by: Getty Images |
Virtual reality
For years, virtual reality was something long on promise but short on real, practical application. But as costs have come down and the technology has become far more approachable and scalable, teams, networks and marketers all now view virtual reality as a viable way to provide an immersive simulation of being present at an event to anyone, anywhere, in the world.
Periscope and Meerkat
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| Photo by: tGetty Images |
The apps allow anyone to watch and share live video to mass audiences, but the technology has sparked a particular debate over its use in sports. Media partners want to protect the content rights they pay millions and sometimes billions for, and the apps at times have been used to illegally stream pay-per-view or other forms of licensed programming. For sports it comes down to this: Are Periscope and Meerkat a significant threat, or simply a new vehicle to enable a shared experience?
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| Photo by: Getty Images |
Snapchat
The social media platform’s “Live Stories” feature can put together relevant posts from fans attending an event. The subsequent social sharing garners massive numbers of views that captivate leagues, networks, consumer brands and others. However, what is often the case with using social media to reach millennials, the task now is to find ways to monetize the platform.
Drones
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| Photo by: Getty Images |
Improvements in technology have made drones a more frequent sight at sports facilities. Some are brought in by the facilities themselves, such as for marketing purposes or to provide unique video content, while others are simply outside pilots looking to get overhead images. Drones no doubt provide a fresh perspective, but the possible security threat in the skies over stadiums and lack of a full regulatory framework could keep units grounded.
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| Photo by: Timothy Norris / Courtesy of R/GA |
Dodgers Accelerator
The Los Angeles Dodgers launched a business incubator program to cultivate technology companies, welcoming an inaugural class of 10 firms that specialize in everything from mobile ordering for live events to software targeting health, fitness and training. The Dodgers have gone far beyond providing networking opportunities and mentoring by also investing directly in the firms. It’s a unique, out-of-the-box approach that gives the club an early look at emerging innovations and leverages the power of the Dodgers brand in a new way.
