In honor of the new National Football League season that begins Thursday night–and since this is a technology blog–the issue of technology in football needs to be addressed.
While the TV networks have invested heavily in the best high-definition cameras and TV sets so officials can determine in super slow motion the exact moment when a player's knee touched the ground or when the ball popped free, football fans are still perplexed by issues that technology could solve quite easily with the use of global positioning technology.
The NFL did not confirm the story, but Reuters reported last month that the NFL is in discussions with German manufacturing company Cairos Technologies to put a GPS chip in footballs.
NFL vice president of communication Michael Signora did say, "We are always exploring ways in which we can be innovative with technology to improve our game and our fans enjoyment of the game."
Since the league values the mantra of "getting the call right" with replay technology, it's hard to fathom why GPS has not been used–or even tested in the preseason.
How often have we heard the term, "The Steelers got a favorable spot," as referees marked where their eyes told them the player was tackled. NFL replay reviews allow for coaches to challenge where the ball was spotted, but no matter how great video technology has become, it is still an eyeball judgment. GPS could certainly do a better job of helping the referees mark the ball.
A GPS device may not have the charm of a 10-yard piece of chain, but it certainly would level the playing field in what is universally known as a "game of inches."
How often have we watched TV and wondered why there is no camera at the plane of the goal line to determine touchdowns. GPS certainly could do that–and probably even better than a camera. (And don't even get me started on soccer goals.)
Traditionalists might not be ready to complete embrace the technology, but fans are ready. Which side are you on?
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