The game may never be the same. This has been said in many sports over the years, but on Friday FIFA approved the use of goal-line technology at the Club World Cup, Confederations Cup 2013 and World Cup 2014. What does this mean for the average pick up game or youth soccer match? Nothing.
But for the pros it is a game changer. It actually comes about from the adoption of two different technologies that have been approved, and both will be used in different capacities going forward. The “Hawk-Eye” essentially uses high-speed cameras and triangulation to determine if the ball crossed the goal line. It has already been successfully used widely in international tennis and cricket tournaments. The other is the “GoalRef” technology that relies on a microchip that is placed inside the ball and uses magnetic waves to determine if the ball has crossed the goal-line. Continue reading Goal Line Adopted by FIFA
We’ve seen a number of waterproof cases for the iPhone and iPad, and we’d suggest to users of those devices to seriously consider such aftermarket products. This week it was reported that Apple has gotten patent approval for a water-damage detection system. The patent reads:
There have been two trends in bicycle design over the past couple of years – foldable commuter bikes and electric bikes. Richard Heath, an industrial design intern in Australia has crafted a design that is a merger of the two and is aimed at commuters.
Already this year we’ve reported on a couple of solutions for mounting a Garmin GPS cycling computer, including ones from 
Having a monkey on the back is usually equated to a serious problem that won’t go away. But having a Solarmonkey on the back could actually solve a problem of juicing up digital equipment while on the go – thus solving a rather annoying (if not exactly serious) problem.
Last week we noted that Sony was diving into the rugged camcorder space, and now JVC has announced the GC-XA1 ADIXXION, a pocket sized camera the is just .28 pounds and is freeze-proof, dustproof and waterproof to five meters (16.4 feet), while being shockproof to two meters (6.5 feet).
Most heart rate monitors are waterproof, and therefore you can track your heart rate while doing laps, but it’s difficult to track what you do in the pool. The new Swim training watch from Garmin is designed specifically for swimmers, and provides feedback on laps. The Garmin Swim training watch was announced ahead of the U.S. Masters Swimming Championships in Omaha, Nebraska taking place July 5-8. 
Cycling computers can do it all these days, but that’s not always a good thing. Cyclists – especially at the pro level – aren’t all generalists or general classification riders. There are sprinters and there are climbers too, and the latter could use some specialized equipment.
While the wearable HD video camera market already has many strong contenders Sony looks to enter the area with a camcorder that will reportedly feature Sony’s SteadyShot image stabilization technology.
Much has been made about the possibilities of what can be used with brainwaves, including in tracking responses during fitness sessions, most of the interfaces seem to be far more geek than chic. While working out should be about the working out and not a fashion show, brainwave interfaces can often be too cumbersome to use while working out.
We often wonder how the castaways on Gilligan’s Island managed not to break that small radio. We know from one episode that it had rechargeable batteries, but it still seemed to be pretty tough for its day. Today those taking a three hour tour, or deciding to trek into the wilderness might consider something more durable.