As you go on your morning run, a smartwatch can monitor the rhythmic pounding of your feet and your heart’s steady beat. The watch can record the distance covered and the intensity of your workout, guiding you towards your fitness goals.

During lunch, you can use it to log calories for a BLT sandwich. As deadlines loom, they can offer gentle reminders to take a moment for yourself. And as you doze off, they might pick up instances of apnoea or other sleep disturbances.

But some users could also conflate health tips with medical advice. Device and app developers have consistently made it clear that their products cannot replace a professional medical doctor’s advice or treatment.

A smartwatch is not a medical device as defined by law. In the UK, medical devices are strictly regulated in a way that other devices such as smartwatches are not. These regulations provide users with better legal protections and clarity as well as providing for resolution in the event of a mishap.

What qualifies

The key legal framework in the UK is the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (UK MDR). Once a product has been identified as a medical device under UK MDR, further classification of it takes place, ranging from low risk (stethoscopes and wheelchairs) to high risk (pacemakers, heart valves, implanted cerebral simulators).

If a device is designed to go inside the body, or if it contains medicinal substances, it is more likely it is treated as high risk. Depending on the risk classification, the law then imposes stringent standards to protect users from harm. These include obligations on the manufacturers and developers to ensure their devices are safe, through conducting risk impact assessments, periodic audits and other actions.

All matters relating to medical devices in the UK fall under the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA conducts surveillance of medical devices available in the UK and has the authority to make decisions regarding their marketing and distribution. It is also the MHRA’s duty to ensure that manufacturers and developers are complying with the regulations.

Pursuit of wellness?

An important question is how one distinguishes a device, digital tool or app as one used for a medical purpose – which is how the UK MDR defines a medical device – versus one that is used for general health and wellness. The latter would include, for example, meditation apps or step counters.

Traditionally, smart watches have been treated as smart, wearable technology. On the face of it, they offer users insight into their general health and wellness, helping them make necessary lifestyle adjustments to improve their health or fitness goals.

In recent years, however, such technologies have become increasingly advanced. Tens of thousands of digital tools and applications have flooded app stores. These include monitoring apps for mental health, symptom checkers based on information entered by patient users, or medical calculators for drug dosing.

Smartwatches may have electrocardiogram (ECG) functions. An ECG is a test used to check a person’s heart’s rhythm and electrical activity. Medical professionals have traditionally used ECGs to look for signs of coronary heart disease or other cardiovascular conditions. The same functions on a watch may not have the right sensitivity to pick up on medical conditions.

The latest version of the Apple watch has embedded sensors that may be able to detect atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heart rhythm. In the US, Apple has obtained clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowing it to be used for this purpose, marking a bold move into the regulated medicine and healthcare space.

Biosensors, previously thought of as devices that were administered only in clinical settings have now evolved by design into slim patches for consumer use. Take the Nix Biosensor device. When paired with Apple Watches, it is designed to measure a user’s optimal hydration level in real time by identifying molecular markers in sweat and determining the loss of fluid and electrolytes (substances that maintain a balance of fluids inside and outside cells).

Finally, emerging trends also indicate that more and more women are relying on fertility and cycle trackers in smartwatches and sophisticated apps. However, there have been concerns that users might use the information in place of actual birth control.

Hence, as smartwatches and trackers evolve, it’s possible that they may approach the threshold for what authorities could consider a medical device.

Privacy protections

There’s something else to consider too. Users of devices and digital tools regularly hand over their personal data. Businesses must ensure compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA).

Personal health data is a “special category of data”. This would fall under the application of Articles 6 and 9 of the UK GDPR and Schedule 1 of the DPA. This means that more stringent standards are imposed for the collection and use of such data (in its processing), including potentially an obligation to conduct an extensive data impact assessment.

Indeed, the UK’s privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued a statement on February 8 2024 reminding all app developers to ensure they protect users’ privacy following the regulator’s review of period and fertility apps.

Other potential safeguards for users’ privacy could come from the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 (MMDA), from the appointment of the Patient Safety Commissioner and from the National Health Service (NHS), which can now evaluate digital tools using the digital technology assessment criteria (DTAC).

Clear guidelines in this area are not just necessary, they’re imperative. Without them, we potentially risk both stifling innovation and compromising user care.

Author: Pin Lean Lau, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Bio-Law, Brunel University London

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Image Credits: Pitchyfoto/Shutterstock

Here are some of the innovations in use at the ongoing World Cup in Qatar

Bonocle

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is accessible to people who are blind. An invention named “Bonocle” is a product of the SC’s flagship innovation program. The SC constantly looks into ways to improve the fan experience and has created many innovative products. This invention is just another example of how they’re trying to make life easier for everyone.

Bonocle converts digital content to Braille, which allows fans with visual impairments to access the content. The technology has already been used at other sporting events and is being used during this World Cup to help those with visual impairments enjoy the games in a new way.

The Qatar 2022 World Cup will be the first FIFA tournament with this technology. It’s an excellent way for people with visual impairments to enjoy the World Cup, as it allows them to experience the game in a new way.

TrafiOne sensors

The government of Qatar installed 700 Flir TrafiOne sensors to monitor traffic and control crowd flow during the Fifa World Cup.

As reported by ITS International, TrafiOne uses WiFi and thermal technologies to identify pedestrian movement on the pavement and automatically adjust traffic signal timing. This means, for example, that pedestrians can be prioritised ahead of vehicle traffic, promoting safer, more effective pedestrian crossings. Thermal cameras with video analytics detect and classify pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles even in complete darkness or adverse weather conditions.

Cooling Tech

In November and December 2022, the average temperature of Qatar is usually high, 18-24C.

The cooling systems implemented at seven Qatar 2022 stadiums are unique, presenting challenges for Dr Saud Abdulaziz Abdul Ghani.

Energy used in Qatar 2022 stadiums comes directly from a solar panel farm outside Doha. Cooling technology is also used in other venues across Qatar, such as shopping plazas and farms. This is the most critical technology, as it will keep players and fans cool during the games. This heat can cause serious health problems for players and spectators alike, so various cooling technologies have been developed to combat this issue.

The sensor inside the match ball

FIFA World Cup 2022 will be the most “high-tech” tournament in recent times. New ball Al Rihla has an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor that aids in making tight offside calls.

Adidas and FIFA say the sensor can send data to the video operation room 500 times a second. The sensor is a small chip that is placed inside the ball. It can measure the ball’s orientation and movement and transmit it to a terminal via Bluetooth in the video operation room. The system is designed to help referees make calls that are more accurate than ever before.

Semi-automated offside technology

The semi-automated offside technology is used during Qatar 2022 World Cup games to ensure referees’ accuracy and consistency in decision-making. It will also help officials make decisions quickly when there are several challenges on a ball near the goal line. The process behind this technology is to help referees determine whether or not a player is offside by using cameras placed around the pitch and tracking players’ movements as they play. It will use 12 cameras installed beneath the roofs of Qatari stadiums to track “up to 29 data points of each player, 50 times per second.” These data points include “their exact position on the pitch as well as their speed and direction.”

As reported on the SVG blog, the new technology provides an automated offside alert to the video match officials inside the video-operation room whenever the ball is received by an attacker who was in an offside position at the moment a teammate played the ball. Before informing the on-field referee, the video match officials validate the proposed decision by manually checking the automatically selected kick point and the automatically created offside line based on the calculated positions of the players’ limbs. This process happens within a few seconds and means that offside decisions can be made faster and more accurately.

VAR assistance

A video assistant referee (VAR) system is a support tool for officials. The use of video match officials (VMOs) in football was included in the 2018/2019 edition of the Laws of the Game and was successfully used at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Since then, the system has been implemented in over 100 competitions worldwide.

Football’s use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has not been without controversy, and FIFA has advanced the offside rule by implementing new, partially automatic offside technology.

Thermal Cameras

Thermal cameras are used to detect heat sources. They can be used to detect fire, people, and vehicles, but also living things and inanimate objects. During the Qatar World Cup 2022, thermal cameras are being placed alongside security guards at all venues.

The purpose is to detect potential threats, such as explosives or bombs being smuggled into stadiums. Thermal cameras are also helpful in detecting people hiding or behind curtains. Their infrared vision allows them to view an object without light interference (like how we see with our eyes).

The cameras use infrared radiation to detect heat sources, which allows them to see in the dark and through the fog. They can detect people behind walls or even around corners!  This is useful for security guards monitoring large crowds, as they can identify potential threats before they become a problem.

Conclusion

The Qatar World Cup has provoked debate about whether Qatar should host the tournament. However, in recent years, new technologies have been developed that are helping to make hosting the tournament comfortable, exciting and environmentally friendly. The Qatar World Cup 2022 could set new standards for planning, building, and operating sporting events.

Hopefully, this article explains some of the technology used at Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup. These are practical innovations with tangible benefits.

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This is Part 3 of a three-part series focused on tech development in the sports arena. In this edition, we are looking at:

• Fan acquisition using new technology
• Social media
• Tracking devices
• Streaming services

Image Credit: Image by ASphotofamily on Freepik

This is Part 2 of a three-part series focused on tech development in the sports arena. In this edition, we are looking at:

• Performance monitoring in athletes
• Fan engagement and new technological tools
• Wearable technology for fans

Image Credit: Image by pikisuperstar on Freepik

This is Part 1 of a three-part series focused on sports innovations. In this edition, we are looking at:

• New scientific research
• New technology in coaching

Image Credit: Image by drobotdean on Freepik

Some of this wealth has been used to impose major technological enhancements on the league, including the video assistant referee (VAR), goalline technology, and vanishing spray applied to the playing surface by the referee to indicate where set plays should be taken from. Meanwhile, increasingly advanced player tracking systems have given commentators and pundits access to team performance metrics in ever more granular detail.

These changes have improved the accuracy of refereeing decisions and the quality of pundits’ player analysis. But it’s less obvious how training technology and sports science is being used behind the scenes, in and around club training grounds, to improve the quality of the product itself: the football on the pitch.

Having worked in elite football myself, I’ve seen how clubs have used their new riches to produce more athletic players and more entertaining teams. Before you scoff that football’s not all it once was, it’s worth considering how these changes, funded by lucrative TV and sponsorship deals, have made the EPL such an internationally cherished sporting spectacle.

It’s often argued that the EPL is the most physically demanding league in world football, and that the athleticism demanded of players has increased over time. Top teams that take part in European competition now play up to 60 games per season, about ten more than they did 20 years ago. Training time has increased too, so that overall the modern player completes 2.5 times as much “work” as elite players did 15-20 years ago.

To meet the demands of the modern game, players at the highest level have had to relentlessly train their physical attributes. That training is augmented by advances in technology, with elite teams now having access to a myriad of player tracking, monitoring and testing technologies that barely existed in 1992.

GPS technology is now used routinely, with players’ match and training activity recorded and analysed each day to ensure that they work at an appropriate level, to promote the beneficial effects of training, and to track excessive fatigue and injury risk. In the 1990s and 2000s, coaches simply couldn’t monitor their players in this way.

It’s not just the first team that benefits. The tracking process now starts in club academies, when players are in their teenage years, so that clubs have extensive information on each promising player as they progress through the ranks.

Bespoke programmes

Many clubs also use bespoke online platforms to analyse other aspects of player health. These systems can track fatigue and muscle soreness, players’ sleep, their nutritional status, and their psychological wellbeing. Trends are monitored closely, often using machine learning techniques.

Training technologies that players could only previously access in the lab are now embedded in EPL club training grounds. That means that coaches and performance experts can individualise training for each player, optimising their schedule so that they make the most of their physical attributes while avoiding injury.

This relies on highly trained staff. Since 1992, the volume of football-specific scientific research has increased exponentially, removing some of the intuition and guesswork previously used by coaches. Clubs have invested heavily in their staffing infrastructure, with more science, medical and fitness staff employed to optimise everything from travel arrangements to sleep schedules.

A more beautiful game

As a result of this innovation, the intensity of the work that players complete in matches has increased. One study compared the match activity of EPL players in the 2006-07 season against the 2012-13 season. While the total distance covered by players had only increased by a modest 2%, the study found a large increase in high-intensity actions.

Specifically, in just six years the amount of high-speed running (the distance that players run at a speed over 19.8 km/h during a game) had increased by 30% and “sprints” (distance covered at a speed over 25.2 km/h) had increased by 35%. The number of sprints players performed had increased by 85%, suggesting that the game has become far more explosive. This trend has likely continued over subsequent seasons.

Notably, the top speed of elite players was found to be 2% faster, which explains the increase in high-intensity actions. And it’s not just sheer athleticism that has improved. The technical performance of EPL players has too, with the number of successful passes having improved by 7% in the period between 2006 and 2013.

It’s perhaps little wonder that the EPL continues to attract many of the world’s best players, coaches and managers. High wages will also play a part, but access to world-class facilities, informed by cutting-edge research, will entice those with a desire to reach the pinnacle of their game.

The effects of modern training technology may have been most profound for England’s homegrown talent. Since 2012, all 28 of England’s national teams have trained at St George’s Park, a state-of-the-art facility that makes use of all the innovations introduced at club level. The recent progress of the women’s and men’s national teams must, in part, be ascribed to their access to these facilities.

With the EPL’s revenue forecast to increase further, we can only speculate where the league and football in general will go in 30 years’ time. What’s certain is that, for all the complaining about player wages and transfer fees, some of this money will be used to make clubs more competitive, and to further enhance the spectacle that is the English Premier League.

Jonathan Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise, Teesside University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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Image Credit: Image by viarprodesign on Freepik

New scientific research

In addition to the technology that has directly impacted athletes, we also see advances in sports science research. One of the most exciting new scientific research areas involves genetics and gene editing. We’re learning more about how our genes can predict performance and how exercise might modify them. Research is helping scientists understand why some people are better at certain sports than others and what factors allow them to perform better or worse than expected based on their genetic profile.

This research has led to new insights into how an athlete’s DNA affects their ability to recover from injury, which has improved our understanding of why some injuries occur and how best to treat them when they do happen. Experts have also discovered that even small changes in lifestyle habits can make a big difference when it comes down to optimising performance while minimising the risk of injury—and this knowledge has been shared with coaches so they can pass it along to their players.

New technology in coaching

Imagine if you could see exactly what your players are doing at all times. You could tell they’re running too fast or not working hard enough. You’d know whether they’re focusing on improving their skills and how much time they spend practising each one. You’d be able to tell if someone is injured because the sensors would alert you that something’s wrong with their body.

Nowadays, there’s no need for imagination: coaches can use technology to do all these things and more! Many coaches are already using data from wearable devices like heart rate monitors or GPS trackers to track the performance of their teams during practice or games. They use this information to help them make better decisions about how best to train those players in the future.

Performance monitoring in athletes

In sports, performance monitoring refers to using technology to collect data on athletes’ physical abilities. The data can then improve sports training and predict an athlete’s likelihood of injury or illness. Performance monitoring has been used in professional athletics since the late 1990s, but it’s now spreading into amateur leagues, too—a trend that some experts see as beneficial, and others worry could lead athletes into unsafe territory.

Performance monitoring is often used at three different stages of a training program: during practice sessions (known as “in-session” monitoring), outside of practice sessions (known as “out-of-session” monitoring), and in real-time during competitions (known as “real-time” or “in-game” tracking). These methods may differ slightly depending on who is using them—for example, professional teams might have access to more sophisticated equipment than high school teams do—but their purpose is generally the same: collecting data about an athlete’s physiological responses during exercise so that trainers can make adjustments based on what they find out from these readings. For instance: if one particular player has a higher resting heart rate than his teammates do after workouts, this may indicate that he needs more rest between practices; conversely, if another player has consistently lower heart rates than everyone else on her team before games start up again after halftime breaks end each half time period during matches played over multiple days’ worth of long hours playing together regularly under stressful conditions away from home.

Teams can track player performance with wearables. Wearables enable coaches to monitor players’ movements during practice sessions and games, identifying weaknesses that need improving before every game or match. Wearables also allow team managers to keep tabs on their athletes’ health status as well as their physical condition – for example, if an athlete has a fever or sore throat at practice or in a match, then you’ll know about it so you can pull him out for treatment instead of leaving him out there until he gets worse later on!

Fan engagement and new technological tools

Fan engagement and new technological tools are changing the sports industry for fans and athletes.

Fans have always been a central part of the sports experience, but social media has made them even more critical. Fans can now watch games from anywhere in the world with streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter allow fans to interact directly with their favourite athletes and teams, giving them access to news previously only available through mainstream media channels (such as newspapers).

Wearable technology for fans and teams

Wearable technology is changing how fans experience sports; it will only improve. Here are a few of the ways wearable tech is changing the sports industry:

• Fans can now access real-time statistics, scores and other information about their favourite players and teams. Wearable technology such as Apple Watch allows you to get notifications about your favourite team’s stats during a game or live stream—for example, if they’ve scored a goal—without having to look at another screen during playtime!

Fan acquisition using new technology

As a sports fan, you’re used to being bombarded with ads and other messages about everything from the latest sneakers to new movies. But what if technology could help you find new fans who share your interests? And what if it could help you engage them, so they become fans too? That’s exactly what’s happening today in the world of sports.

While some people still prefer traditional advertising, others are turning to digital channels like social media and websites where they can reach people directly using things like Facebook ads or Google AdWords—all at a much lower cost than traditional forms of marketing. And these days, fans expect more than just information when they interact with brands: they want experiences that connect emotionally with the brand itself (think Spotify playlists inspired by artists’ music videos). With all this in mind, let’s look at how companies leverage technology to attract new fans and engage existing ones more effectively through online communities built around shared passions such as sports teams. We’ll talk about how technology can also be used for conversion purposes after attracting those potential customers into contact with your business through content creation/distribution channels like Instagram stories (which allow users to create short video clips) or social media ads focused on specific demographics that match up perfectly with their target audience when looking for similar products online via Google search results pages.”

Technology has changed how we watch or play sports by driving fan engagement with a wearable tracking devices.

Wearable tracking devices give fans a deeper understanding of the game, and sports organisations are taking advantage of this to drive fan engagement.

Technology has also driven changes in how we watch sports — streaming services and social media channels have made it possible for fans to follow their favourite teams more closely than ever before. This has led to an increase in fan acquisition and performance monitoring, as well as new scientific research into how athletes train and recover from injuries. New scientific methods are being used in coaching techniques as well.

Streaming services and social media sports channels are changing the game of sports.

Streaming services are changing the way people watch sports. Social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are also changing how we consume sports content.

Watching live streams of games on a device or computer has become quite common now. The ability to record and playback games was a big step forward for streaming services, but being able to cut out commercials was another big leap in terms of convenience and enjoyment from watching sports online. Now with social media channels offering highlights and live streams of games as well as commentating on these events it’s easier than ever for fans around the world to keep up with their favourite teams or players in real-time.

Conclusion

Technology has changed how we watch or play sports by driving fan engagement with wearable tracking devices and streaming services. The sports industry is growing rapidly, with more people playing sports than ever. We expect this trend will continue thanks to new technology such as streaming services and social media channels, which help fans connect while watching games online or on their mobile devices.

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The sports sector in Nigeria is one of the leading sports sectors all over Africa. This is mainly due to Nigerian athletes’ sporting skills and individual brilliance. As reported by AllAfrica, an African news aggregation website, in 2020, the then Statistician-general of the federation, Yemi Kale, said, “Sports is valued at $500 billion globally. However, the sector accounts for 0.005 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, which is not good enough”. In the same report, the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, said, “the sports industry can deliver N2 trillion revenue in the next 5 to 10 years for Nigeria, and this can help to drive the largest real estate and infrastructure development in the country; however, it will require $500 million annual investment in sports infrastructure.”

According to the 2012 study of the Contribution of Sports to Economic Growth and Employment in the European Union, sports is a labour-intensive growth industry and an important economic sector. It was reported by the study that sports contributed 294.36 billion Euros to the European economy in 2012. The above shows the sports sector’s immense and vastly untapped economic potential, and Nigeria can significantly benefit from this. What do the Europeans have in their sports sector that Nigerians are not utilising fully? Technology.

Some fundamental challenges and suggested technological solutions.

The Nigerian sports sector has not grown like the sports sectors of Europe and America because we are still lacking technologically in a couple of significant areas. The key areas where we are being held back include:

1. Maladministration and Corruption: In the Nigerian sports scene, especially in the Nigerian Professional football League, the male and female national football teams, basketball teams and even the Olympic teams. There have been a lot of situations where athletes and their trainers or coaches have come out to say that they are being owed allowances and salaries or that they are stranded, and without uniforms and kits they need to perform. The funds are usually available, but administrators would rather keep the monies. This would not be a problem with technology, especially blockchain technology, as it would be easier to track finances. Administrators are encouraged to adopt fintech to make the finances and administration of sports in Nigeria transparent.
2. Medical technology and data management: A significant challenge is athletes’ false age declarations and incorrect medical history. Unlike our European counterparts, Nigeria isn’t equipped with the medical and technological infrastructure to keep a well-documented history of medical records for athletes. This situation has made it possible for many athletes to falsify their ages and hide medical details, including injuries. While this might work in their favour in the age-grade competitions/events in the short term, it usually comes back to work against them and the country, especially with bans, disqualifications, and fines. If there is proper data management technology, it will become impossible for certain athletes to cheat the system.
3. Fans involvement: what is a sport without the involvement of fans? Nigeria sports can get a boost when the fans are systematically organised, targeted and engaged. For example, in the Nigerian Professional Football League, clubs are not active on social media platforms. Involvement on social media platforms is one way through which fans can be involved in the activities of their clubs. Clubs need to embrace digital media to distribute their content and keep their fans engaged while growing their fanbase. This is also a way for clubs to generate revenue.

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Example budding sport-tech in Nigeria

While it might seem like there aren’t any or a lot of strides made in the area of technological development in sports in Nigeria, there have been developments. Some of them are:

1. The JJC app: At the 2022 NUGA games, several tech start-ups with their innovations were represented at the event. One of them was The JJC app, a navigation app used as the official navigation guide for NUGA 2022 and assisted athletes in finding their way around.
2. The NPFL.TV: To boost the viewership of the Nigerian Professional Football league (NPFL), the League management company (LMC) created a live streaming platform for all the games called NPFL.TV. The NPFL.TV is an app that lets its users watch all their favourite Nigerian league matches for as low as ₦1,500. The app is available for download on Google Playstore.
3. AMPZ mobile app: According to a 2019 report by The Guardian Nigeria, titled: “AMPZ mobile app to connect 5000 African talents to a world of opportunities”, AMPZ; a Sports tech start-up, announced that it was launching a sports talent mobile app and also awarding sports scholarships to 16 young talents. The AMPZ mobile app allows sports talents to profile themselves, share their data, upload their content, and connect to verified opportunities and scouts. With this solution, AMPZ hopes to usher the African sports ecosystem into a new era using technology. The mobile app is available for download on the Google Play Store.
4. Tech Infused “LIV (54)” Footwear: As reported by Tech Economy in 2018, AFA Sports, one of the leading sports merchandise manufacturers on the continent, launched the first Active footwear in Africa designed and engineered in Nigeria. The LIV 54 include Contoured Traction Grip (CTG) technology with advanced arch support and a rubber outsole borrowed from the multi-movement patterns of the Sahara desert. A micro-mesh knit gives the shoe comfort and breathability in warm climates—multi gel areas for force deflections.

Technologies that could benefit the sector

1. Instant Replay: A major complaint by followers of the Nigerian Professional Football league is the officiating. Fans are usually of the opinion that wrong calls are made. Instant replay would hugely benefit the League and help increase the followership and fan engagement. With instant replay technology, officials can re-examine what happened during a phase of play; this gives a second perspective or opinion when it comes to controversial sports moments.
2. Sensors: Sensors are the driving force of technology in athletic gear and sports equipment. Sensors can be built into clothing and shoes worn by athletes or equipment. Sensors, in general, help improve the athletes’ overall performance through data monitoring and eliminates little errors in timing and accuracy. According to an article by Sports Management Degrees, based on the unique functionality, sensors can be used for anything from tracking health and biometrics to delivering real-time results to scoreboards. Some of the sensors already in use or in development can be used in the Nigerian sports sector; these include:

• Heart rate monitors to track pulse and breathing patterns.
• Inertial sensors that perform human motion analysis can be used for recovery after injuries and accidents.
• Accelerometers and gyroscopes to monitor position, rotation, acceleration and speed.
• GPS (Global Positioning System) units to track velocity metrics outdoors.
• LPS (Local Positioning System) units to measure velocity metrics indoors with higher accuracy than GPS.
• VBT (Velocity Based Training) sensors to track performance in the weight room.
• Sleep trackers to monitor and optimise sleep patterns.
• Pressure sensors to determine the frequency and accuracy of strikes or footfalls.

Final thoughts

We acknowledge that some of the suggested sports techs in this blog may already be in use. And indeed, there may be others that are not mentioned. This blog is only a teaser for the Nigeria tech ecosystem and food for thought. As usual, Akingate would like to encourage more home-grown sport-techs to advance the Nigerian sports sector, create champions, increase prize awards and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s economy.

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We are on a journey and this post is a humble beginning. We are super excited about the future, more so about what this site is all about – technology, innovation, inventions and all that good stuff!.

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There are lots of untapped innovation waiting to be discovered and put to good use. Our vision at Akingate is to explore how existing or emerging technologies can result in tangible improvement to the quality of everyday lives.

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