XR Can Trigger Tech Revolution in Sports

XPANCEO

The Benefits of Extended Reality for Sports

So far, the introduction of AR and XR technologies to the world of sports has been sporadic at best. There are two major challenges that need to be addressed before we can herald a technological revolution in sports. The first is the conservatism of sports regulatory bodies, who often view new technology with high suspicion, primarily as a potential means to gain an unfair advantage. The second is the lack of a suitable device form-factor to enable this transformation.

Obviously, both are temporary obstacles: the conservatism of sports regulatory bodies will eventually have to reconcile with tech adoption, and innovation will provide a device form factor suitable for athletic applications. Moreover, it's the emergence of such a device and its adoption outside the realm of professional sports that will likely nudge sports officials in the right direction. Our vision for this device is, unsurprisingly, the smart contact lens. This must be a highly versatile, general-purpose device (not a specialized gadget like a bicycle computer) and robustly designed (a smart contact lens might seem fragile, but its wearing mode provides excellent protection, unlike glasses or headsets).

There are several avenues through which AR and XR is used in major sports:

Fan Experience
Performance Analytics
Training and Exercise

Enhanced Fan Experience: Major sports are equal parts athletics and showbiz. There are multiple ways AR and XR can enhance the fan experience without affecting the essence of the sport in question. Any modern TV broadcast of a major sports event can provide an idea of what this could look like:

• Data overlays displaying game statistics, player/athlete profiles, cues and pathways, guides, and playfield heatmaps. For instance, during the Euro 2020 tournament, Deutsche Telekom allowed fans to virtually pose with some of the German soccer team’s star players using a smartphone app.

• Video overlays showing other athletes performing the same run, jump, swim, ride, or program element, allowing for performance comparisons.

• Immersive video feeds offering fans a chance to see the game up close—think courtside seats at a basketball game, regardless of their physical location. During the Superbowl, Verizon and Pepsi created an immersive 360-degree Web AR portal experience for the half-time show. This portal allowed fans to watch performers live and toggle rapidly between different stage views.

• All of these features can be on-demand, interactive, and personalized to individual needs and preferences.

Performance Analytics: Professional sports today are data-driven enterprises—from player drafting to individual technique, athletes, coaches, and managers use accumulated data to spot correlations, opportunities, and optimal paths. A smart contact lens can help athletes and their support staff utilize this data more effectively.

• Real-time heads-up displays with vital signs and performance indicators usable on the go in any activity.

• Team performance animations that a coach can align with strategies to identify areas for improvement.

• Game and competition replays from various immersive perspectives.

And from here, there's an obvious next step to...

Training and Exercise: Not using all the capabilities listed under ‘Performance analytics’ in real-time during training exercises would miss a great opportunity. Essentially, all the same features offered to an athlete in real-time during their training can significantly boost their performance:

• Overlays that show optimal moves, track balls, display distances, and angles—this can allow an athlete to perfect their technique and make better decisions.

• The same applies to coaches, who can provide superior guidance to their athletes using AR tools in review or even in real-time mode.

Once these tools become commonplace in everyday training routines, we will need just two things before AR/XR can be used in actual sports events:

• A convention on what constitutes an unfair advantage and what doesn’t.

• Tools to identify the use of devices like smart contact lenses and verify their compliance with the rules set for them.

The integration of AR and XR in the world of sports has opened up a new era of engagement, entertainment, and training. Fans can now enjoy an immersive viewing experience, while athletes benefit from innovative training methods and performance analysis. As these technologies continue to evolve, we can expect even more exciting advancements in the future, elevating the world of sports to unprecedented heights of interactivity and excellence.