Augmented Reality in the NBA: Blurring the line between video game and reality
- Mar 12, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 31, 2020
Augmented reality is the blending of interactive digital elements – like dazzling visual overlays, buzzy haptic feedback, or other sensory projections – into our real-world environments. AR has taken to the spotlight in recent years with the popularity of mobile games like Pokemon GO and various quirky Snapchat filters.
The first functional AR systems were developed by the United States Air Force in the 1990s. At the time the technology was limited to defence and governmental applications due to the advance technology and processing power required. In recent years a massive leap in the processing power available in the hands of consumers combined with readily available cloud computing has boosted the popularity and applications of A.R.
It is in the best interest of every major sports franchise and broadcaster to create a competitive advantage to maintain strong viewership. In late 2018 the L.A. Clippers announced the launch of Clippers CourtVision, a revolutionary new way to watch Clippers Basketball games that puts fans in control of the viewing experience.
Using augmented reality and machine learning, Clippers CourtVision brings fans deeper into every game. CourtVision delivers a more robust and more impactful viewing experience, where fans can toggle across multiple modes with real-time data and augmented reality features.
“It’s long been a dream of mine to use technology to transform the sports-watching experience. Innovation is at my – and the Clippers’ - core, and we’re excited to redefine fans’ expectations of what it means to watch sports through this revolutionary new broadcast technology” - Steve Balmer, Clippers Owner.
CourtVision uses preexisting cameras in all of the 29 NBA arenas to collect 3D spatial data, including ball and player locations and movements. This data is stored and analysed on servers in real-time. CourtVision and their cloud partner Amazon Web Services use the data to generate augmented graphical overlays on Clippers broadcasts in real-time, offering users an array of content options and modes with features ranging from live layouts of
basketball plays, to the frame-by-frame probability of a shot going in, to a suite of graphics that animate based on conditions both simple and complex, giving fans a deeper understanding of and interaction with the game as the action unfurls on the court. The advancements of AR in sports broadcasting is just one of the incredible applications of modern technology in sports.
James Nangle
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