How do you take an industry and completely transform it? Well, in an age of technology, you simply connect it to some sort of online service.
Whether that’s a mobile gaming platform, adding it to a social network or using the power of big data, modern technology has the power to turn something simple into something infinitely more complex and, therefore, more engaging.
Sport has possibly been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the recent advances in modern tech. In fact, sport and our interaction with it has evolved.
For example, what’s the best way to get an insight into Cristiano Ronaldo‘s mindset before he takes to the pitch? Simple: you head over to Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram instead of turning on the television hoping to find someone discussing this, as you would once upon a time—or even turning to a newspaper. Just as an average social media user will post images and updates from their lives, so will professional athletes.
Getting Social with Sports Stars
Aside from offering a form of entertainment, these social media posts have made sport much more accessible to the masses.
In days gone by, there was almost no way to see how professionals live on a daily basis. Moreover, there was no way to interact with them and ask them about their routines. Naturally, if you’re a fan of sport, these insights enhance your enjoyment.
Beyond this, if you’re an aspiring athlete or even a sports bettor, seeing how the pros function can help you improve.
Whether that’s learning a new skill after watching Ronaldo on Instagram or you’ve found out that Anthony Joshua has a cold before his next heavyweight fight, this access to information can help. In fact, if we stick with the sports betting example, this opens up the second area where sport has benefitted from technology.
More Access to More Data
Big data and, importantly, the collation of this data, have allowed sports bettors to get more from their time online. At an odds aggregator like Oddschecker, punters not only get access to betting lines but a wealth of important stats and data. For example, even if a customer wasn’t familiar with Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL), they could visit Oddschecker and get the lowdown on the latest action. On top of collating NRL betting lines from the top bookmakers, the site also provides big data insights such as the “most popular bets”, which can in turn help punters decide who to bet on.
The final area of innovation that’s helped sport is mobile access. When you break it down, social media and big data has given us much more information that we once had. However, without efficient access to said information, it’s virtually useless. This is where mobile access comes into its own and the reason Smartphone usage is projected to hit 6.1 billion by 2020. With a few touches of our mobile devices, we can now get more from that ever before.
Of course, it’s not just sport that’s benefited from the rise of modern technology. Although we’ve used it to illustrate our point, there are multiple industries that have benefited in the same way. Essentially, when it comes down to it, technology has transformed the industries and, therefore, the world around us and that can only be a good thing.
