The application of emerging technologies to sports technology : wired skin

Abstract

Technology is continuously being developed, processed and created into products for the consumer market; however, in the steps of this process, there is often one goal in mind, and using the technology is rare used for different and novel areas. The goal of this paper is to show how three emerging technologies can be used creatively beyond their original purposes by the sports industry. The technologies addressed in the paper are The Microsoft Full Body Network, ShapeTape and the FluidFocus Lens. These technologies address the issues of wireless data and power transmission, data acquisition, and the creation of a lens with variable focus with no mechanical or moving parts, respectively. Research was done to understand the current state of the technology or product, and what obstacles remain in the path to the creation of an actual working prototype. A merging of these three technologies resulted in a proposed product for the sports industry. The name, Wired Skin, was given to this envisioned product, and was tailored in response to a survey conducted with a pool of 200 individuals. The issues of the price range customers were willing to spend on various products, the importance of various improvements to existing technology and general questions to specify the demographic questioned were addressed fully. This paper creates a melding of the three technologies into a product that addresses the major barriers to the entrance of emerging technology to the area of athletics.