Summary: This week on The Waves of Tech 232, we go heavy on recent technological advancements in sports, including NFL and soccer. The NFL and Microsoft have a $400 million contract that places Surface tablets on the sidelines and in the hands of offensive and defensive coaches and the players. In soccer, one team is utilizing camera technology to improve on field play and positioning. We also discuss Google Barge, NFL DirecTV experiences, and Facebook. Enjoy the show and continue to ride…the waves of tech. Microsoft Surface debuts in NFL; No more Black & White The NFL is slowly buying into the concept of integrating technology into their sidelines. Referees are now using wireless communication systems and the league is planted RFID chips into players uniforms. With a $400M contract with Microsoft, all NFL teams will be utilizing Surface tablets as a replacement for the outdated black-and-white 3-ring binder approach to reviewing plays and dissecting the opposing team. The system is a private secured network to eliminate tampering and potential for cheating. Speaking of NFL My Direct TV experience Watching football is always a blast…when it’s on in your area. DirecTV’s NFL Ticket experience can be blissful for some and bad for others. With blackout policies in place, sometime the locals can’t watch the games unless they attend them. Also, with the cost of NFL Ticket rising annually, is it worth the investment anymore? Google Barge Sold as Scrap Metal Google made headlines for nearly three weeks when their barge was just sitting in Portland, Maine and San Francisco Harbor. There was plenty of conjecture about the barge: it was a Google Glass party boat; it was a super secret research and development project; it was a floating portal of servers and infrastructure. After all the buzz and all the attention, the Google Barge is now being sold as scrap metal and sent through international recycling firms. What was going to be a Google interactive tech exhibit will now be part of your next vehicle, cell phone, bridge, and highway guardrail. Soccer Club uses tech to improve Manchester United is spending a decent amount of cash on a new camera system that is helping players correct their positioning and play on the field. In essence, the network of cameras record practice sessions and players can utilize the data to fix voids in the defensive lines and find where to improve the game – both individually and collectively. The system, valued at $843K, is already proving to be a commodity to players. Grrr. Facebook Facebook has to monetize. The shareholders want it and Facebook needs it. Monetizing on social platforms is difficult because it often involves placing items or suggestions directly in your timeline or feed. Does Facebook get carried away with suggesting companies and products? And how are they gathering the data? Steve questions the practice.
