Lawdog Dago Dom Posted February 9 Posted February 9 From Kim Komando.com Today’s big game isn’t just about touchdowns and tackles. There’s a ton of tech in play. Here are some highlights for you to keep in mind while you’re watching the game and share with others. You will sound so dang smart! 📺 The sights and sounds The game is broadcast in 1080p HDR upscaled to 4K with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos sound. Ultra-high-definition cameras capture every angle, while augmented reality (AR) overlays that update in under a second deliver live stats, player bios and play diagrams to your screen. It usually takes 35 to 40 cameras to cover a football game’s broadcast, but for Super Bowl LIX, Fox is deploying around 150 cameras. This expansive setup includes a mix of super-slow-motion, robotic, wireless and field-level cameras designed to capture the game from every possible angle. Fun fact: The Dolby Atmos system used was originally engineered for concert halls and supports up to 128 audio tracks. This lets you hear the rustle of the crowd, the impact of every tackle and the stadium’s ambient noise. 🎥 The calls Hawk-Eye's SMART advanced replay systems use 59 high-speed cameras to capture every moment from multiple perspectives. In tandem with AI-powered analysis, these systems help referees make decisions. They see 3D animations of the plays in question in under two seconds. Fun fact: Each camera captures 1,000 frames per second, meaning the entire system can record 59,000 frames in just one second. Whoa. ⛑️ Smart helmets The player’s helmets have built-in sensors that measure the force and location of impacts. Using low-power Bluetooth or specialized RF, real-time data is relayed to medical teams and sideline monitors. Today’s helmets are built with polycarbonate composites and thermoplastic polymers. This reduces their weight by up to 30% compared to older ones. Fun fact: The helmet’s sensors are only about two centimeters in diameter and a few millimeters thick. They’re placed in the helmet’s inside padding. 🏈 Smart footballs Official game balls have tracking chips embedded that record speed, spin rate, trajectory, acceleration and impact force. This lets coaches and analysts dissect every play, from the perfect throw to the exact moment of a game-changing fumble. Each team receives 108 footballs, complete with the Super Bowl logo, and all made since 1955 by the Wilson Football Factory in Ada, Ohio. Fun fact: A ball’s sensor weighs about five grams, measures only one centimeter and doesn’t affect its natural flight dynamics. It collects data up to 1,000 times per second, so during a typical five-second play, the ball can record over 5,000 individual data points. 🤖 The AI coaches During the game, each team’s coaches will use AI to make decisions on the plays and players. These AI models were trained on over 30 years of NFL data, analyzing millions of plays and surprises. That’s a staggering library of football history at their digital fingertips, allowing them to spot trends even veteran analysts might overlook. Fun fact: The AI considers over 200 variables in their predictions. It covers everything from individual player stats and weather conditions to the type of turf and even historical performance in similar game scenarios. I thought this was amazing, too, but I’m a geek. These AI systems process 10 terabytes of data. To put that in perspective, that’s roughly the storage capacity of 2,500 high-definition movies, each packed with stats, plays and critical game moments. 2 1 1 Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted February 9 Posted February 9 Dolby Vision - is he any relation to Dobie Gillis? Will Maynard be there, too? It sounds like every team needs a battalion of geeks and nerds to interpret everything these days. Thanks for posting that. Some of the stuff, especially in that first paragraph, are beyond me, but still interesting. 1 Quote
Boggus Deal #64218 Posted February 9 Posted February 9 And I thought this was going to be about that new soup and salad place in town. Quote
Sedalia Dave Posted February 9 Posted February 9 2 hours ago, Lawdog Dago Dom said: Fun fact: The AI considers over 200 variables in their predictions. It covers everything from individual player stats and weather conditions to the type of turf and even historical performance in similar game scenarios. I thought this was amazing, too, but I’m a geek. These AI systems process 10 terabytes of data. To put that in perspective, that’s roughly the storage capacity of 2,500 high-definition movies, each packed with stats, plays and critical game moments. So we'll have 2 AI systems doing this...... 2 Quote
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted February 9 Posted February 9 Do the smart footballs continually report their pressurization? 3 Quote
PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L Posted February 9 Posted February 9 My nephew is the robotic camera operator that provides NFL/ESPN coverage for one of the "sights and sounds" companies (NPA). Apparently he's good at his job. 3 1 Quote
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted February 9 Posted February 9 It galls me to no end. I don't sport a 72 inch big screen Smart TV to have the actual game picture shrunk down to one third of the screen with banners of useless krap across the bottom and the right side with other useless player stats and photos. During the college and Pro seasons, I search for coverage that doesn't include all that Hi Tech Garbage. I just wanna watch the game full Big Screen!! 2 Quote
Pat Riot Posted February 9 Posted February 9 The Super Bowl is today? Cool! I am going to Sam’s Club. Should be empty. 1 Quote
Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 Posted February 9 Posted February 9 superbowl, supperbowl, saladbowl, punchbowl, toiletbowel sorry, but I don't care ...... 🤢 1 Quote
Cypress Sun Posted February 9 Posted February 9 If they'd invent software to immediately cut the camera off every time they tried to show Taylor Swift, or the idiots with her, billions of viewers would rejoice. 2 1 Quote
Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 Posted February 9 Posted February 9 8 minutes ago, Cypress Sun said: If they'd invent software to immediately cut the camera off every time they tried to show Taylor Swift, or the idiots with her, billions of viewers would rejoice. If they didn't plan on showing her at every opportunity, the Chiefs wouldn't have gotten all those "questionable" calls that got them TO the game. 1 Quote
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted February 9 Posted February 9 Dang... I didn't know Kim Komando was still alive! I used to listen to her radio shows back in the 90's. Gave "computer nerd" an entirely new meaning! 3 Quote
Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 Posted February 9 Posted February 9 That Taylor Swift sounds like a pretty quick runner; ... ........which team does he play for? 🙃 4 Quote
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted February 10 Posted February 10 Whatever, the sound didn’t play well with my TV and sound set-up. The announcers were crystal clear, but anything from the public address system like officials, was significantly diminished. No matter, turned it off before the half. A pretty uncompetitive Superbowl. 1 1 Quote
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