A new report on the "Future of Football" predicts the innovative ways in which the world's most popular sport is expected to change thanks to technology over the next 50 years. The study, conducted on behalf of HTC, the official UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League Smartphone supplier, presents 30 ways in which football could change by 2060, including Android football, data integration in player kit (even in contact lenses) and the ubiquitous surreal XNUMXD simulation available.
With Smartphones at the heart of the football experience fans enjoy today, the report also explores the futuristic possibilities fans can expect in terms of how they enjoy a football match with mobile them, wherever they are.
The experience of the fans will change forever
According to the study, developed by the renowned futurizon futuristic consulting company, those who benefit most from the growing influence and application of technology in football are the fans:
• In 5 years: mobile apps that allow viewers to connect with players and coordinate with other fans to support their heroes, upgrading the football spectacle and bringing the fans closer to teams and players. By incorporating social media and race data in real time, these applications will be the most complete escort in each race.
• In 15 years: η monitoring the home match becomes a much more exciting experience as insect-like robots and player appearances will have built-in cameras, for a whole new view of the match
• In 55 years: technology allows fans to control humanoid robots in full-scale matches and live with all their senses the stadium experience through advanced virtualof reality
Soccer as you have never seen before
Along with improving the experience for the fans, the games themselves will be fully transformed as technology will allow teams and players to make even better use of data to improve their performance:
• In 5 years: generalized integration of ball impact sensors and acceleration counters on soccer shoes will allow precise measurement of the impact ball and footballer that will also benefit referees
• In 20 years: the 'active skin' brings the electronic circuits printed on the players' skin, to connect the nervous system and its biochemistry bloodto external networks and devices, producing complex analytics that help players quickly improve their performance
• In 25 years: Active contact lenses will allow referees and supervisors to watch the action from any angle and zoom out at will - perhaps even at 3D
Dr Ian Pearson, the leading designer and author of Futurizon, commented: "Football is a sport that focuses on public participation. Technology has always been used to improve the quality of play and public participation, both on and off the pitch. In the years to come, this will be a rhythm, as the action on the pitch will become more and more of the data, while in the stands and at home the audience's experience will become richer to an unbelievable sense of realism. "
Graham Wheeler, Director of Marketing Management productof HTC, said: “In this exhibition, when we look back at past innovations such as goal-line technology, it is clear that technology has a central role in the evolution of the way we experience football. Fan-centric innovation is at the core of HTC's partnership with the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League and we look forward to being part of this exciting future.”
HTC has already taken a step towards the future of football with its new HTC FootballFeed application available for free through the Play Store. This application puts the fan in the center and delivers official minute updates from the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League directly to your mobile. Wherever you are - in the stands, on your couch, in the office, or for a walk in the city - HTC FootballFeed offers it live updates with information and statistics that can tailor it as it pleases, as well as a wide variety of news and other rich content .
