Augmented Reality in Sports

As early adopters of augmented reality, sports introduced the world to augmentations on the field. Some of the augmentation has been to increase understanding of the various sports through use of virtually placed information on live video. Other use has been to attract advertisers who can see their virtual ads placed in key places on billboards or sideboards in arenas and stadiums.

AR has also come to sports related souvenirs. Baseball cards have long been collectible, but now the cards are more than the paper they are printed on. Total Immersion created these for Topps

'Total Immersion: TOPPS 3D LIVE trading cards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7jm-AsY0lU

How it works: AR http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/08/total-immersion/

In 2010, '''EyePly''' will bring an Augmented Reality app to sports. Their smart phone application will augment live events. For example, if a user were at a golf tournament and wanted to know what was going on on another hole, she/he would just point their smart phone to the hole and information and pictures would appear. At a football game when the smart phone was pointed to a player, information and stats about that player would be layered on screen. See a short video explaining the app [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtOCePI7w8c#t=02m39s EyePly Augmented Reality App]

At the 2009 Wimbledon tennis match attendees with an Android Smartphone and the Wimbledon Seer app were able to see augmented data when viewing the field through their phone's camera lens. Information was as varied as match data, news and line lengths at the refreshment stands. What was different about this application was that the information came from Wimbledon's own controlled channel not the wider internet.[http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/kit-eaton/technomix/augmented-reality-hits-wimbledon-tennis-championship]

Wimbledon IBM -Android Seer App

"The San Jose Earthquakes and Aurasma, the world's leading augmented reality platform, have partnered to transform the team's 2012 logo and promotional materials into cross-media experiences that will draw fans closer to their favorite Major League Soccer team.Using the free Aurasma Lite app for iPhones, iPads and Android devices, fans can aim their device at the San Jose Earthquakes logo anywhere in the world and view a special video message from top scorer, Chris Wondolowski, followed by game highlights." Source Youtube video

Augmented Soccer

Chris Kluwe: How augmented reality will change sports ... and build empathy

Video Description:

"Chris Kluwe wants to look into the future of sports and think about how technology will help not just players and coaches, but fans. Here the former NFL punter envisions a future in which augmented reality will help people experience sports as if they are directly on the field — and maybe even help them see others in a new light, too."

Next-Up: Augmented Reality Travel, Museums, Art, Architecture