12/04/24
January 10, 2005
Smarter Soccer Through Chips.: A technology outfit in Germany have created a new wireless ball and player location system, via inserting microchips in soccer balls and shinguards that can tell the precise location of a ball or player - to the centemeter. They claim that these chip-enhanced features can not only provide a wealth of stat-pr0n, but also end off-sides and goal line disputes. They also plan to develop the technology for other sports, such as ski jumping, baseball, and basketball.
posted by Ufez Jones to soccer at 11:04 AM - 8 comments
I can see how it could work for goal line decisions but how is this chip supposed to decide if a player is "active" in offside calls?
posted by squealy at 06:29 PM on January 10, 2005
I don't think it's quite to see if a player is "active", squealy, but more to see if an active player is offsides. Imagine if you could take the positioning of the ball, the striker, and the final defender all down to the millisecond (or whatever). It would obviously mean a stoppage in play - which is where I (as well as StarFucker, maybe) come in with the cringe - but with either a World Cup Berth or Title on the line, it could make a difference. It's not something I'd want to see used more than, say, twice a year in any league or tourney, but it definitely *could* have some pretty serious reprocussions. I wonder if just even a little bit of the Fucker's chagrin has to do with the fact that Blatter is open to it ;).
posted by Ufez Jones at 07:17 PM on January 10, 2005
I have no idea what Blatter is for or against, really... He's kind of a blattering idiot from what i have read about him or heard him say. I am of the old school. No replays, no cameras, no technology.
posted by StarFucker at 07:21 PM on January 10, 2005
For anyone interested in French philosophy, I would suggest Gilles Deleuze's short essay "Postscript on the Societies of Control", which seems to me to be related to these developments in football. I am presenting a paper next month on this basic premise (seedling here), and would be very interested to hear everyone's ideas.
posted by smithers at 12:32 AM on January 11, 2005
No cameras? How on earth will we watch it then?
posted by trox at 08:21 AM on January 11, 2005
Don't confuse "in an offside position" and "offside". This system can tell the officials when a player is in an offside position. The officials still have to call offside. (FYI: "offside position": If you are standing in the opponent's half of the field, with fewer than 2 defenders between you and the goal-line. "offside": If you are in an offside position, and involved in active play, at the moment a team-mate passes the ball to you)
posted by salmacis at 12:59 PM on January 11, 2005
I posted about this system a couple of years ago: End of offside controversies in soccer? Maybe Carroll's "save" will help build support to try it. Bring it on! Contrary to early reports, like the Deutsche Welle link from this thread, this ball will NOT be used in the Carling Cup final in Cardiff on Feb. 27. (Go Liverpool!)
posted by Steve-o at 02:54 PM on January 11, 2005
I hate it...