scholarly journals Smart sport equipment: reshaping the sports landscape

Motricidade ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Tiago Barbosa

We are witnesses of “Industry 4.0”, the 4th industrial revolution. In just a few years, we became a highly analytical society where at any given time massive datasets are produced, collected and analysed. Cities and countries have the vision of becoming smart societies, optimising the performance and wellbeing of their citizens. One can easily track and log all daily activities. The biggest challenge, though, is the management of an overwhelming amount of data. Sports industry is no different. Sports is a reflection of the society. Athletes (of any level, from recreational all the way up to world-ranked), patients and practitioners (Physical Education teachers, coaches, analysts, physicians, therapists, etc.) are keen to track-down analytical parameters as well. Innovation and technology can help preventing and minimising sports injuries, enhancing sports technique or aid assessing the performance delivered. The industry of smart sport equipment is growing up at a very fast pace. The number of wearable devices worldwide is expected to increase from 325 million in 2016 to over 830 million in 2020. The smart wearables for sports and fitness generated US$3.5 billion in 2014 (Market Wired, 2016). The forecast is that smart garments sector will worth about US$34 billion by 2020 (Lamkin, 2016). The smart textiles and smart fabrics market is expected to reach US$9.3 billion by 2024 (Grand View Research, 2015). These products can cater a wide range of consumers. The ones who are looking forward to more or less fashionable sportswear, sports accessories, information technology & electronics consumers, etc. The common denominator among these consumers is being innovation-driven. There are commercially available smart wearables (or gear) to be used in all main sports, including aquatics, athletics, boating, cycling, gymnastics, invasion games, net sports, winter sports, and much more. Sports equipment and clothing can be instrumented with sensors, providing real-time analytical details on the subject’s behaviour and performance. Data can be logged and analysed later on. Alternatively, it can be transmitted real-time to portable terminals (smartphones, tablets, smartwatches or laptops) and displayed immediately. With this outlook as backdrop, there is an opportunity for sports sciences to play a key-role in the reshape of the sports landscape. Sports researchers can help on the design and validation of smart sport equipment, and be involved as end-users of these products. As end-users, sport researchers will not be spending so much time collecting and handling data. Rather, the job scope will shift more into analysis, interpretation and application of the findings. This will enable to provide swift real-time feedback to patients, athletes, coaches and others stakeholders in the sports fraternity. Data can be uploaded to a cloud and be available everywhere at any given time from any device. The design, and validation of new cutting-edge devices, of innovative solutions, are a great opportunity to bridge academia with industry. To carry out these projects is paramount to have interdisciplinary research teams with a wide array of skills, different expertise and backgrounds. The project will not end by the publication of a series of research papers. This should be followed-up by obtaining a patent. Also, it can help highly-trained graduates to join the workforce and even to foster the setup of start-ups. Several universities, mostly in Asia and Europe (notably the United Kingdom), are now offering courses in “Sports Technology” to undergraduate students. Some tertiary institutions, are offering also undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in this field. The curricula of such programmes touch topics such as innovation, design, and sports engineering with a strong emphasis in sport sciences. Sports technology is an exciting, cutting-edge and reasonable new field. Moreover, it is possible to set a pathway between academia (research and teaching) and industry (services). Ultimately, it is deemed to provide an added economical return to society, which one should not disregard.

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Bonaiuto ◽  
Paolo Boatto ◽  
Nunzio Lanotte ◽  
Cristian Romagnoli ◽  
Giuseppe Annino

The use of a network of wearable sensors placed on the athlete or installed into sport equipment is able to offer, in a real sport environment rather than in the unspecific spaces of a laboratory, a valuable real-time feedback to the coach during practice. This is made possible today by the coordinate use of a wide range of kinematic, dynamic, and physiological sensors. Using sensors makes training more effective, improves performance assessment, and can help in preventing injuries. In this paper, a new wireless sensor network (WSN) system for elite sport applications is presented. The network is made up of a master node and up to eight peripheral nodes (slave nodes), each one containing one or more sensors. The number of nodes can be increased with second level slave nodes; the nature of sensors varies depending on the application. Communication between nodes is made via a high performance 2.4 GHz transceiver; the network has a real-life range in excess of 100 m. The system can therefore be used in applications where the distance between nodes is long, for instance, in such sports as kayaking, sailing, and rowing. Communication with user and data download are made via a Wi-Fi link. The user communication interface is a webpage and is therefore completely platform (computer, tablet, smartphone) and operating system (Windows, iOS, Android, etc.) independent. A subset of acquired data can be visualized in real time on multiple terminals, for instance, by athlete and coach. Data from kayaking, karting, and swimming applications are presented.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bambang Widagdo ◽  
Mochamad Rofik

The economic diversification concept gives hope for a country with rich natural resources to strengthen its economic basis. Thus industrial revolution era of 4.0 provides great opportunity to fasten the process. A study by McKensey in 2011 proved that the internet in the developing country contributes around 3.4% towards its GDP which means that the internet has become a new hope for the economy in the future. Indonesia is one of the countries that is attempting to maximize the role of the Internet of Things (IoT) for its economic growth.� The attempt has made the retail and tourism industries as the two main sectors to experience the significant effect of IoT. In the process of optimizing the IoT to support the economic growth, Indonesia faces several issues especially in the term of the internet network quality and its distribution, the inclusive access of financial access and the infrastructure


Author(s):  
Karen J. Esler ◽  
Anna L. Jacobsen ◽  
R. Brandon Pratt

The world’s mediterranean-type climate regions (including areas within the Mediterranean, South Africa, Australia, California, and Chile) have long been of interest to biologists by virtue of their extraordinary biodiversity and the appearance of evolutionary convergence between these disparate regions. Comparisons between mediterranean-type climate regions have provided important insights into questions at the cutting edge of ecological, ecophysiological and evolutionary research. These regions, dominated by evergreen shrubland communities, contain many rare and endemic species. Their mild climate makes them appealing places to live and visit and this has resulted in numerous threats to the species and communities that occupy them. Threats include a wide range of factors such as habitat loss due to development and agriculture, disturbance, invasive species, and climate change. As a result, they continue to attract far more attention than their limited geographic area might suggest. This book provides a concise but comprehensive introduction to mediterranean-type ecosystems. As with other books in the Biology of Habitats Series, the emphasis in this book is on the organisms that dominate these regions although their management, conservation, and restoration are also considered.


Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 1463-1477
Author(s):  
Olga Marino ◽  
Jaime Andres Gutierrez ◽  
Sandra Aguirre

Purpose This paper aims to propose and evaluate a pedagogically sound and innovative strategy to teach a higher education course that prepares future professionals to intelligently use information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their personal and professional lives. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual framework used for the design of the course was the socio-constructivism and activity theories. The implementation of the course was evaluated using the intrinsic case study methodology by including several instruments. Findings The pedagogical strategy proposed proved to be sound, as the evaluation showed that students were able to describe, use and propose innovative uses of a wide range of cutting-edge technologies in their both everyday lives and professional settings; they also had the skills to analyse the opportunities and challenges that these presented. Moreover, students liked this innovative way of learning and ended with a positive attitude towards ICT. Originality/value Although several courses prepare students to be digital citizens or use ICT to enhance the teaching-learning process, millennials are ill prepared to use cutting-edge technologies in an innovative, responsible and critical way in their future professions. The course that was designed is original in that it goes beyond preparing digital citizens to prepare professionals in any domain to use ICT in an informed and responsible way. Moreover, it is a documented, successful example of an undergraduate universal course in a highly important current society dimension. The authors believe that its pedagogical proposal could be transferred to courses dealing with other global issues such as the environment, economy and peace.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-382
Author(s):  
Md. Kamrul Hasan ◽  
Takashi S. T. Tanaka ◽  
Md. Rostom Ali ◽  
Chayan Kumer Saha ◽  
Md. Monjurul Alam

To reduce human drudgery and the risk of labor shortages in the Asian developing countries, the appropriate introduction of agricultural machinery, especially combine harvesters, is an urgent task. Custom hiring services (CHSs) are expected to contribute to making paddy harvesters prevalent in developing countries; however, the economic performance has been rarely quantified. The study was carried out to precisely evaluate the machine performance attributes of medium and large combine harvesters using the real-time kinematic (RTK) global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and to estimate the economic performance of CHSs of paddy harvesters in Japan, as a typical case of Asian countries. The financial profitability was evaluated by four major indicators: net present value, benefit–cost ratio, internal rate of return, and payback period. The financial indicators showed that both types of harvester could be considered financially viable. Thus, the investment in combine harvesters can be highly profitable for CHS business by a local service provider and custom-hire entrepreneur, providing a great opportunity to use a combine harvester without initial investment by general farmers. The findings demonstrated the high feasibility of CHSs of paddy harvesters in Japan, while they highlighted that further study is needed to estimate the feasibility of CHS in the other Asian developing countries.


1995 ◽  
Vol 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Saraswat ◽  
Y. Chen ◽  
L. Degertekin ◽  
B. T. Khuri-Yakub

ABSTRACTA highly flexible Rapid Thermal Multiprocessing (RTM) reactor is described. This flexibility is the result of several new innovations: a lamp system, an acoustic thermometer and a real-time control system. The new lamp has been optimally designed through the use of a “virtual reactor” methodology to obtain the best possible wafer temperature uniformity. It consists of multiple concentric rings composed of light bulbs with horizontal filaments. Each ring is independently and dynamically controlled providing better control over the spatial and temporal optical flux profile resulting in excellent temperature uniformity over a wide range of process conditions. An acoustic thermometer non-invasively allows complete wafer temperature tomography under all process conditions - a critically important measurement never obtained before. For real-time equipment and process control a model based multivariable control system has been developed. Extensive integration of computers and related technology for specification, communication, execution, monitoring, control, and diagnosis demonstrates the programmability of the RTM.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1135-1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faisal Khan ◽  
Suresh Narayanan ◽  
Roger Sersted ◽  
Nicholas Schwarz ◽  
Alec Sandy

Multi-speckle X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) is a powerful technique for characterizing the dynamic nature of complex materials over a range of time scales. XPCS has been successfully applied to study a wide range of systems. Recent developments in higher-frame-rate detectors, while aiding in the study of faster dynamical processes, creates large amounts of data that require parallel computational techniques to process in near real-time. Here, an implementation of the multi-tau and two-time autocorrelation algorithms using the Hadoop MapReduce framework for distributed computing is presented. The system scales well with regard to the increase in the data size, and has been serving the users of beamline 8-ID-I at the Advanced Photon Source for near real-time autocorrelations for the past five years.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usman Ahmed ◽  
Zhiheng Zhang ◽  
Ruben Ortega Alfonzo

Abstract Horizontal well completions are often equipped with Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) to optimize flow rates across the completion for the whole length of the interval and to increase the oil recovery. The ICD technology has become useful method of optimizing production from horizontal wells in a wide range of applications. It has proved to be beneficial in horizontal water injectors and steam assisted gravity drainage wells. Traditionally the challenges related to early gas or water breakthrough were dealt with complex and costly workover/intervention operations. ICD manipulation used to be done with down-hole tractor conveyed using an electric line (e-line) cable or by utilization of a conventional coiled tubing (CT) string. Wellbore profile, high doglegs, tubular ID, drag and buoyancy forces added limitations to the e-line interventions even with the use of tractor. Utilization of conventional CT string supplement the uncertainties during shifting operations by not having the assurance of accurate depth and forces applied downhole. A field in Saudi Arabia is completed with open-hole packer with ICD completion system. The excessive production from the wells resulted in increase of water cut, hence ICD's shifting was required. As operations become more complex due to fact that there was no mean to assure that ICD is shifted as needed, it was imperative to find ways to maximize both assurance and quality performance. In this particular case, several ICD manipulating jobs were conducted in the horizontal wells. A 2-7/8-in intelligent coiled tubing (ICT) system was used to optimize the well intervention performance by providing downhole real-time feedback. The indication for the correct ICD shifting was confirmed by Casing Collar Locator (CCL) and Tension & Compression signatures. This paper will present the ICT system consists of a customized bottom-hole assembly (BHA) that transmits Tension, compression, differential pressure, temperature and casing collar locator data instantaneously to the surface via a nonintrusive tube wire installed inside the coiled tubing. The main advantages of the ICT system in this operation were: monitoring the downhole force on the shifting tool while performing ICD manipulation, differential pressure, and accurately determining depth from the casing collar locator. Based on the known estimated optimum working ranges for ICD shifting and having access to real-time downhole data, the operator could decide that required force was transmitted to BHA. This bring about saving job time while finding sleeves, efficient open and close of ICD via applying required Weight on Bit (WOB) and even providing a mean to identify ICD that had debris accumulation. The experience acquired using this method in the successful operation in Saudi Arabia yielded recommendations for future similar operations.


1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitchell Withers ◽  
Richard Aster ◽  
Christopher Young ◽  
Judy Beiriger ◽  
Mark Harris ◽  
...  

Abstract Digital algorithms for robust detection of phase arrivals in the presence of stationary and nonstationary noise have a long history in seismology and have been exploited primarily to reduce the amount of data recorded by data logging systems to manageable levels. In the present era of inexpensive digital storage, however, such algorithms are increasingly being used to flag signal segments in continuously recorded digital data streams for subsequent processing by automatic and/or expert interpretation systems. In the course of our development of an automated, near-real-time, waveform correlation event-detection and location system (WCEDS), we have surveyed the abilities of such algorithms to enhance seismic phase arrivals in teleseismic data streams. Specifically, we have considered envelopes generated by energy transient (STA/LTA), Z-statistic, frequency transient, and polarization algorithms. The WCEDS system requires a set of input data streams that have a smooth, low-amplitude response to background noise and seismic coda and that contain peaks at times corresponding to phase arrivals. The algorithm used to generate these input streams from raw seismograms must perform well under a wide range of source, path, receiver, and noise scenarios. Present computational capabilities allow the application of considerably more robust algorithms than have been historically used in real time. However, highly complex calculations can still be computationally prohibitive for current workstations when the number of data streams become large. While no algorithm was clearly optimal under all source, receiver, path, and noise conditions tested, an STA/LTA algorithm incorporating adaptive window lengths controlled by nonstationary seismogram spectral characteristics was found to provide an output that best met the requirements of a global correlation-based event-detection and location system.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document