The NFL is fitting players’ shoulder pads with data sensors. This will allow the real-time collection of metrics such as position, speed and acceleration.
In last year’s Pro Bowl sensors were installed in footballs to measure the length of throws. Surprisingly, given “Deflategate”, they have chosen not to expand this idea.
In addition to being used for the “game stats” that are popular in the US, the data will be used by coaches and be available to the public—for a fee. Will be interesting to see what the market can do with it.
While NFL players are clearly “high value assets”, falling prices for sensor technology and computing resources mean we are going to see similar approaches deployed in more “mundane” areas—such as ranching.
