Big data has become a popular topic recently. Articles about big data usually focus on the challenges and opportunities that companies face. Common problems include the difficulties of capturing, organizing, and understanding the large amounts of data they collect. While big data offers many chances for businesses, they aren’t the only ones trying to benefit from it.
If you’re anything like me and caught some of the European Championships this summer in Poland and Ukraine, you likely remember the TV ads for Adidas’ smart MiCoach tools. These ads claimed a new era of smart soccer… or, I mean, football. Interestingly, organizations like Major League Soccer (MLS) were paying attention. This year, MLS and Adidas teamed up to host what was called “the world’s first smart soccer game.”
During the 2012 MLS All Star Game in Philly, for the first time players participated in using Adidas’ MiCoach. MiCoach consisted of a small green device placed between soccer player’s shoulder blades. These green cells transmitted vital data back to iPads accessible by each team’s coaches and their respective training staff. With MiCoach, coaches (and eventually fans) during the All Star game were able to “monitor biometrics on their players, including heart rate, speed, and power, packaged in a slick user interface.”
The expectation is that every MLS team will use the Adidas MiCoach for the 2013 season. According to Adidas interactive VP Paul Gaudio, big data “can help coaches and trainers make better decisions. MiCoach isn’t just about getting more out of players, but also about knowing when to back off – for example, when an injured player is recovering.” Being able to accurately track player recovery and in-game performance should not only help make the game more exciting, but also help coaches preserve the health of their players. Imagine the benefits coaches will have, when they suddenly have access to an amazing depth of information, letting them tailor games and training regiments to fit each individual player’s unique needs.
Teams and sports leagues are also hoping that tools like the Adidas MiCoach will help bring an added level of fan interactivity to sports. As tools like the MiCoach are opened up to fans, sports leagues are hoping they will take sports in America to a higher level. For example, imagine the rush of fans being able to look down at their mobile device and see how their favorite player’s heartbeat changes as he scores – that should be incredible. However, there is a counter argument brewing. There is a concern that by giving fans access to vast amounts of data during the game, it could transform sporting events into another screen-based experience. “Imagine a scenario where stadiums are filed with fans hunched over their phones.”
Regardless of your views, it’s apparent that the effects of big data will be far reaching. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see how big data and the tools that will come out of it will shape our future.