As a sports fan it has become a reoccurring theme to hear about backlash in the aftermath of a ‘wrong’ call made by an offical. Technology has been implemented into sports competitions around the world in an aim to perfect any issues revolving around live calls made my officials. However, in doing this, it is argued that some sports have lost their touch and focusing more on perfection than entertainment.
Welcome to my DA pitch where I will aim to delve into the impact of technology in sports and what it means for the future of sports in the short, medium and long term. My Digital Artefact will include a series of blogs and conclude with a Video Essay.
JAMES MUGGERIDGE
James Muggeridge 
Hi James, well done on an excellent choice of topic.
Your research is asking a similar question as to what my DA is, in which I’m exploring the Paradox of Choice, which argues that our increasing abundance of choice is leading to less satisfaction. By taking a technological approach to this philosophy, you can argue that the increasing choice of technologies implemented in sports analysis is taking away what you argued is a “beauty” in what used to be flawed, maybe, but organic, authentic, non-interrupted sport. I think you could benefit from watching Barry Schwartz’ TED talk (https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_the_paradox_of_choice/transcript?language=en), in which he basically summarises this philosophy. I think you will resonate with his story of when he went shopping for jeans. You could make comparisons to his reflection that even though the jeans he bought were the best fitting ones he has ever had (like how the technology we implement in sport analysis is the most accurate we have seen), he still felt an overwhelming dissatisfaction from too many choices, and how long it took to make the right one (which can be compared to how this technology is disrupting the flow of how we used to enjoy sport).
When engaging with lecture material, consider researching the themes George Orwell’s novel 1984 predicted about surveillance. A good starting point could be this article that reflects on how accurate his predictions were ( https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/futuretense/1984-and-our-modern-surveillance-society%C2%A0/5631512 ). Even though your concerns aren’t with loss of privacy, you could resonate with the idea that we are implementing technology that definitely holds benefits, but always comes with trade-offs.
How far in the future are you researching? It’s important to be specific so we have a better idea of what you are searching for in your research. For example, if researching 2 years into the future, you could be looking for how spectators’ attitude toward computer refereeing has developed. However, if looking 20 years into the future, you could be considering if humans would even have a role in sports officiating at all.
As someone who has not much interest in sport, you have created an interesting and engaging pitch that still gave me opportunity to provide input, so well done and thank you!
LikeLike
Hi James, this sounds like a very interesting topic and I am quite excited to see how it turns out.
As I understood your pitch, you are planning to look at the short, medium and long term future of technologies being implemented in a range of different sports and look more philosophically at what sport really is with all these technologies. This feels like a very ambitious undertaking, I might suggest narrowing your research area down to allow for more depth in one of these future periods as opposed to all three. I believe in the week 2 lecture, the exact perimeters of what each of these periods is, is outlined but I did find you this article on the study of futurology which outlines them as well if you need (https://science.jrank.org/pages/9418/Futurology-Objectives-Characteristics.html).
Whichever direction you choose I think the week 3 lecture would be a highly beneficial starting point for your research, specifically Wendell Bell’s nine major purposes of future studies (http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=065DFDA574366FF280C3054A66268305?doi=10.1.1.168.3943&rep=rep1&type=pdf). It sounds to me like your pitch may have you potentially touching on three of the major purposes he outlines already, those being: possible futures, probable futures and interpreting the past and orientating the present. I might suggest that you could also look at talking about images of the future, which is another of Wendell Bell’s nine major purposes of future studies, as a part of your proect. Bell argues that images of the future play a role in our present behaviour, meaning they shape the historical actions that we take. It could be very interesting if you were to look at films that make predictions of the future of sports and talk about if they could be a reality-based on the research you are doing into technologies that are currently being used in sports. I found this list of sci-fi films that make some kind of sporting prediction if you are thinking about going in this direction (https://screenrealm.com/top-ten-future-movie-sports/). This would also be a great way to tie your project into our weekly screenings in class, as you’d be utilising the same principles we use every week in class.
I hope that this was helpful and I will be definately be checking back to see how your project goes!
LikeLike
Hello James, your digital artefact is so interesting!
I love how you incorporated your own interests within your digital artefact. The idea of being able to focus on technology in sports is very interesting, I myself, have never even considered thinking about the technology involved in sports of even behind the scenes of sports. I am very excited to see how your digital artist folds out.
By focusing on the technology involved in sports you can allow your digital artefact to focus on so many different aspects relating to the future. I have quickly looked up a website in which explains the revolutionising technology involved in sports, mangily because I wanted to know a little more about this topic, whoever I hope this helps 🙂 , https://onlinemasters.ohio.edu/blog/how-technology-is-revolutionizing-sports-training/#:~:text=Now%20athletes%20wear%20sensors%20that,has%20substantially%20increased%20athletic%20potential.
Associated within our lectures and readings, I feel as though are can easily allow this topic of you digital artefact to focus on different aspects of the future, I feel as though you could dive into how you are mixing two different worlds of technology an disports within your digital artefact, and relate back to the novel, Parrinder, P. 2000. Learning from other worlds: estrangement, cognition and the politics of science fiction and utopia, Liverpool University Press: Liverpool, In week 2 (https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/lib/UOW/detail.action?docID=380717 ),
Your digital artefact sounds so interesting! Well done!
LikeLike
Hi James, well done on your pitch!
I love how you incorporated your own interests within your digital artefact and have continue to write about sports as you have done in the past. The idea of being able to focus on technology in sports is very interesting, I myself, have thought about the impacts of technology in sports especially in rugby league when I video referee gets the call completely wrong. By focusing on the technology involved in sports you can allow your digital artefact to focus on so many different aspects relating to the short, medium and long-term futures of watching sport.
I have quickly looked up a website in which explains the 5 new revolutionising technologies that have changed how we watch sport, I hope this helps, https://www.mediaentertainmenttechoutlook.com/news/5-technologies-reinventing-sports-viewing-nwid-352.html
Associated within our lectures and readings, I feel as though are can easily allow this topic of your digital artefact to focus on different aspects of the future. I feel as though you could dive into technology of the past and the future of watching sports and relate back to the novel from week 3 Paalumäki Heli 2001. ‘”Imagine a Good Day”–Bertrand de Jouvenel’s Idea of Possible Futures in the Context of Fictitious and Historical Narratives’. Vol. 1: The Papers of the Nordic Conference on the History of Ideas. https://www.academia.edu/2183380/Imagine_a_Good_Day_Bertrand_de_Jouvenels_Idea_of_Possible_Futures_in_the_Context_of_Fictitious_and_Historical_Narratives
Your digital artefact sounds so interesting, and I can’t wait to see more! Well done!
LikeLike