How many calls came into question during the recent World Cup competition in South Africa? In just about every competitive sport, referees must call who crossed the line first, or if the ball was inside or outside of a line. Many sports have addressed the issue. Tennis uses a Hawk-Eye technology that films and replays the ball play in question. Cycling uses cameras on the finish line and transponders on each bike. Football draws a digital line in the replay to measure the ball and distance it’s traveled. More technology is on the way.
German-based company Cairos Technologies is in talks to introduce its chip-in-ball technology to firm up the calls of in or out. A micro-chip inside say a football or soccer ball would clear up any question to a referee’s judgment that happens now. Cairos showed its reportedly was rejected by the International Football Association Board, which consults with FIFA on rules and regulations of the sport. The company is said to be in talks with the NFL to insert chips in footballs to aid judgment. Not many details are available on the Cairos Web site.
Cairos Technologies Web site
[via: Fast Company and ESPN]