An Increase in the Importance of Sports - Essay Example

Technology plays a key role in decision-making that helps in changing the entire course of a sporting event. It supports sporting officials in making the right and prompt decisions that improve the condition of the sporting exercise.
Main body
The University of Ulster (2015, p. 1) defines sporting technologies as manmade means established to meet human goals regarding a particular game. According to Nóvoa & DrăGoicea, (2015, p. 207), sports technology represents a specific type of means to recognize human interests and aims in sports. Sports technology can also refer to how athletes tend to improve their training in a competitive environment for them to enhance their overall performance. The use of technology in sports involves the application of knowledge in using specialized equipment and tools and making use of the available improved technologies to perform tasks more effectively and efficiently. Sporting technologies available include, tennis rackets, pole-vault poles, golf clubs, motion capture, advanced computer simulations, and athletic sports gear such as clothing and footwear.
The use of technology in sports is viewable from many perspectives. For instance, technology use exists in the assessment of athletes through biometric sensors, laser-based speed timing, and several medical technologies. Sports teams and athletes have benefited from the use of technology through better film breakdowns for study, competitive scouting efforts, and statistical reporting. Technology assists in sports competition through instant replays and sensors that help sporting officials decide on whether a ball crosses a line into a goal. This happens in hockey punks and soccer balls. Fans also benefit from technology through improvements in camera techniques and video display technology (Cremades & Tashman, 2014, p.183).
Technology and athletes' performance
To enhance the athlete’s performance, sports gear such as clothing and footwear should be friendly and should be of valuable quality in terms of strength thickness, flexibility, durability, and moisture resistance. Footwear is more of a comfort and injury protection wear than performance-enhancing wear in sports. On the contrary, clothing like full-body suits streamlines the athlete's performance period in a competitive race. Composite tennis racket relates to sporting equipment designed to increase ball speed and minimize the chances of vibration. Read More