Post-game for many pro and collegiate teams often involve watching video and analyzing every move. But what if coaches and players could analyze more specific moves. Did an athlete’s foot falter? Did the player put enough force behind a throw? What about follow-through? That’s not always evident on video, but with sensors in clothing video could be supplemented or even replaced with data and possibly even 3D modeling of each play. A company called 24eight, Advanced Technology Innovation, is creating clothing with sensors for just that purpose.Sensors placed in clothing can detect activity such as respiration; heart rate; body temperature; motion direction and rotation; velocity; rotation; pressure and grip positioning in the hands; muscle contraction and expansion; gait analysis; stride; foot pressure; distance and duration of a movement. With this data coaches and players can know the exact move that scored — or lost — the winning point, and how to improve or correct it.
The sensors can also help with rehabilitation when an athlete is recovering from an injury. The company is developing a range of athletic and medical-use clothing and devices that can aid performance and monitor progress. It’s not just for the pros. You might purchase special shoes or inserts that use cellular technology to send data to your phone or device on your gait, stride, pace and distance. Future heart rate monitors might become smarter, and work with a sensor less annoying than a chest strap.