Over the past century, sports have altered in almost unfathomable ways, both in terms of how they are played and how we watch them. The internet and television have made it possible for billions of people all over the world to watch sports. Additionally, it has had a significant impact on how sports are performed, enabling better athletic performance and faster, more interesting matches.
The evolution of sports broadcasting, the impact of social media, and the use of smartphones are just a few of the significant changes that technology has made to how sports are played and viewed.
The evolution of sports broadcasting
The development of broadcasting has unquestionably had the biggest influence on sports from technology. In the 1920s, stations began broadcasting live sports to a large audience, including events like baseball and football. Up until the introduction of television in the 1930s, this would continue to be the standard.
Even though it was still relatively uncommon in the 1930s and 1940s, television purchases began to pick up steam in the 1950s, and by the beginning of the 1960s, more than 90% of US households had one. Sports were greatly impacted by this and were able to reach a far larger audience than ever before.
The introduction of satellite and cable television in the 1970s would mark yet another significant turning point in the history of sports broadcasting. This implied that networks solely focused on sports will develop, expanding their reach.
Instant replays, halftime performances, and player interviews were all added to the television package as sports broadcasting changed over the ensuing decades. As we entered the twenty-first century, on-demand services allowed us to watch whenever we wanted and offered digital and HD television. Of course, social media and smartphones had an impact as well, but we’ll get to that in a moment.
Improved equipment and sportswear
Because of safer equipment, lighter apparel, and the capacity to monitor performance using complicated data, technology has had a significant impact on how athletes perform.
Since the turn of the 20th century, numerous sports’ equipment has seen a significant transformation. Football, for instance, used to use heavy leather balls in the past. Heading the ball became much more difficult and dangerous as a result, but today, synthetic balls that are much lighter and more accurate are used almost everywhere.
Other sports began utilizing lighter, more precise equipment, such as tennis, where carbon fiber rackets began to replace wooden ones. Additionally, athletic apparel would become lighter and more aerodynamic, which was particularly advantageous in sports like cycling.
The fields on which athletes play have significantly improved over the past few decades, along with the tools and apparel they would employ. This is especially true for sports like rugby, American football, tennis, and football that are played on grass.
Sports played on grass fields used to be particularly subject to the whims of nature. Now, thanks to hybrid pitches, cutting-edge drainage systems, and retractable roofs, athletes can frequently play in immaculate conditions.
Social media and cellphones’ effects
Nothing has changed how people watch sports more in the twenty-first century than cellphones and social media. Since the first models appeared in the middle of the 2000s, cellphones have seen a significant amount of development. As bigger screens became more common, more and more people began using their smartphones to watch live sports.This has led to an increase in the popularity of golf betting in Canada and other international markets, improving the betting experience for numerous participants.
Naturally, social media has had a significant impact on sports as well as many other facets of entertainment and culture. These days, you may connect directly with other fans and athletes while also keeping up with the most recent results on social media.
In the ensuing decades, technology will affect sports.
It’s obvious that technologies like VR, AR, and AI will start to play a much bigger role as we move into the next decade and beyond, both in terms of how players are trained and how sports fans may enjoy their favorite pastimes.
Through VR technology, the NBA has already started letting its viewers feel what it’s like to watch a game from courtside. However, this is just the beginning; in order to increase fan engagement and enjoyment, more sports and organizations will begin implementing this technology. Although it’s difficult to foresee exactly how this will materialize at this time, AI is anticipated to be employed significantly more in sports broadcasting and training.
