© Amanda Benson, 2012

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August 2012

The application of technology in one of the World’s largest sporting events, the

Olympics

Dr. Amanda Benson

acbkiwi@gmail.com

twitter: @acbkiwi

The ancient Olympics with stone carved seating, a uniform of only skin to the contrast of today’s large stadiums, nano technology, alter ‘g’, mobile technology and high-tec analysis of each angle and millisecond. The transformation is immense, the Olympic ideals the same…Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger). While some athletes will be over the moon (with a medal hanging around their neck), others will be using technology that has been to the moon! With the Olympics on at the moment there is an excellent collection of information available on the technology being used at these Olympics. While reflecting on the sports you have watched during the Olympics which sports do you think are the most technology dependent?

Issue 6: Technology at the Olympics

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Karen Roe, “London 01-07-2012” via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution

© Amanda Benson, 2012 2

Performance Analysis & Training

Using high speed cameras, Quintic and Dartfish software for performance analysis with athletes. An interview with the head performance analyst at the English Institute of Sport. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18887689 USA Olympic Team’s head of technology explains how technology has been used to improve athletic performance. Motion-tracking, collection of biometric data, wireless sensors, laser systems for measuring speed are covered. http://www.popsci.com.au/technology/popsci-q-a-the-u-s-olympic-team-s-chief-technologist-tells-us-how-olympians-train

Wind tunnels and military lasers assist the training of triathletes and cyclists to identify the most aerodynamically efficient riding position by determining drag or air resistance. Given cycling is won and lost in milliseconds, having laser technology that can measure individual riders training could provide the edge needed. Nano technology has been employed in sailing and mountain bike clothing so that the clothing resists water. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/Team-GB/9430061/London-2012-Olympics-how-technology-is-aiding-Team-GB.html MotivePro, a vibration suit with sensors, provides real time feedback for gymnasts. Lolo Jones the American hurdler has also used motion detecting sensors to provide performance feedback. She uses an impressive 40 camera vicon motion capture system to obtain 2D and 3D performance feedback. http://www.psfk.com/2012/07/athletes-use-technology-to-win-gold.html Engineering Sport - Is it cheating? A discussion about the engineering of sport through the application of technology. There are also a series of other clips about sport that may be of interest.

http://www.richannel.org/collections/2012/engineering-sport#/is-it-cheating

NASA technology has made it to the Olympics with the AlterG treadmill used for training and injury recovery.

http://www.itproportal.com/2012/07/25/olympic-athletes-driving-forward-with-technology Related to the AlterG technology that is used to mimic weightlessness present in space – how exercise keeps astronauts healthy in space http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=14389249

An AIS sports physiologist is interviewed about immersive technology (virtual reality). AIS cyclists use immersive technology from test events to be able to train in Australia. They are able to cycle on a stationary bike watching a tv screen with the actual race course displayed. This allows the cyclists to use virtual reality to practice their nutrition and race strategies before the event. http://www.australiaunlimited.com/olympicarticle/sports-physiology

© Amanda Benson, 2012 3

Materials & Textile Development

An article covering water resistant nano technology in sailing, swimsuit development, textured clothing and track and field timing technology. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/at-london-olympics-technology-tries-to-stay-a-step-ahead/2012/07/30/gJQAK2pHLX_story.html Clothing Research manager for Speedo talk talks about how swimwear is developed using simulation to identify areas of drag. http://www.ansys-blog.com/2012/07/27/olympic-games-speedo/ Materials Running track surface development http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18735617 Excellent photos of digital timing equipment, pressure sensitive starting blocks, sensor pads in Taekwondo, dimpled tracksuits with the aim of reducing drag. http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/gadgets-and-gizmos-in-the-games-tech-in-the-2012-olympics/ Timing Races using an electronic pistol http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/07/the-speed-of-sound-is-too-slow-for-olympic-athletes/260413/

Olympic Torch technology http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/torch/default.htm

100m hurdles animation

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/07/18/sports/olympics/lolo-jones-cleared-for-takeoff.html?ref=sports

Fluid dynamics of missy franklin swimming (biomechanical principles) http://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/08/missy-franklin-video/

Usain bolt anatomy of a sprinter

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/07/27/usain-bolt-anatomy-of-a-sprinter/

Beyond the Olympics – Chicago bears NFL team carry tablets with plays instead of a thick folder. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-coach-wants-to-see-you-and-bring-your-ipad-20120726,0,981224.story

Mobile Technology

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Links to collections of resources Australian Olympic Education London 2012 Olympic Resource for teachers http://corporate.olympics.com.au/files/dmfile/teacherguide_london2012_FINAL.pdf

National Sports Museum is technology good for the Olympic games? Year 7-8 resource http://www.nsm.org.au/Education/~/media/Files/NSM%20PDF%20documents/nsm_technology.ashx

Australian Olympic Committee Lessons: Teacher ICT ideas http://corporate.olympics.com.au/files/dmfile/ICT_Ideas_Guide_FINAL.pdf

http://corporate.olympics.com.au/education/a-s-p-i-r-e-school-network/lessons-secondary

Mobile Technology

Tablets are widely used to provide real time data in a

number of sports. Video can be shared via tablets to enable coaches to study performance and collaborate with other

coaches and experts. The AIS have a pool with 30 mounted cameras to capture data on a swimmers stroke. Force plates and motion sensors provide data from starting blocks to tablets. Sailing uses GPS tracking data. What else might be possible next time around? http://www.zdnet.com/what-olympic-sports-use-the-most-mobile-technology-7000001746/

There are links embedded in this article to more detailed information and video clips on real time data

analysis in sailing and sensor technology in tennis racquets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p913fGx6zV4

Grant Abt, the developer of the TimeMotion and PLATO sport ‘apps’ that some of you may use with your classes, has

developed an ‘app’ for the British women’s hockey team to monitor playing time and substitutions.

http://www.podium.ac.uk/news/view/976/university-of-hull-lecturer-helping-britains-womens-hockey-stars-maintain-bid-for-gold

© Amanda Benson, 2012