Sport has developed at a fast pace both in term of the fitness, performance and stamina of sportsmen and women but also in the technology used in both measuring and improving sporting achievement and decisions.
We can now see the ‘3rd eye’ or ‘3rd referee’ or ‘Hawkeye’ being used to question human decision in sports such as cricket, rugby, tennis and other popular sports although perhaps the most universal sport of all, football has yet to adopt the this sort of technology much to the dismay of fans (especially when a decision has gone against their team) football managers (when their job may depend on it) and football club owners (when the financial security of their club depends on it). However I can see it playing a huge part in things to come including in football.
Technology and other advances from electronic components suppliers have also allowed for developments in sporting equipment where the slightest thing needs to be recorded. For example fencing: the accuracy of the point of contact is key in close fencing matches. Developments in timing mechanisms allow for measurements to be made more accurately and movement censors promote fair play in races both at the start and finish.
Training equipment has also benefited from developments in technology. Beep tests are common place amongst athletes testing their fitness. Machines now measure how effective every part of your body is an gives incredibly accurate outputs of where improvements can be made allowing for maximum performance.
Gone are the days when it was a case of how fit / fast / talented you are, where winners were measured by the judgement of a human. Technology in sport has advanced performance, accessibility and fair play in sport – but some would argue this is not always the best way to win!