Smart devices and technologies for sports applications

The term 'smart equipment' usually refers to instrumented solutions with sensors embedded in the equipment itself. If smart solutions are not allowed during competition, semi-embedded sensors are feasible, which can be quickly connected to or detached from the equipment. Sometimes, cheap and ubiquitous solutions are preferable, such as putting smart phones on the equipment and making use of their embedded sensors, such as accelerometer and gyros. Independent of the degree of embeddedness of instrumentation devices, smart solutions are inherently characterised by the principles of instrumentation, detailed in Chapter 3. This specifically applies to calculation of advanced performance parameters, graphical visualisation of data and use of biofeedback systems. A relatively large number of smart solutions have been reported in the sports technology literature, yet they were designed mainly for experimental purposes. Commercially available solutions are still limited and the market for smart equipment is still in its infancy. This chapter covers a range of smart equipment solutions - from transportation sports such as skiing, wheelchair sports and rowing, through ball sports to sport climbing - which serve as examples of pushing the boundaries one way or the other. The chapter also introduces the analysis of advanced performance parameters.