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Replacing Sports Referees With Technology?

Posted by Cliff on from the technology-isn't-always-perfect dept.

dividedsky319 asks: "There have been numerous instances in which fans of a sporting team blame the loss of a game on the refs. Yet, nowadays, technology could replace a lot of what referees do. A sensor in a baseball could determine a ball or a strike. Same with a tennis match, the ball is either in or out. A sensor in a football could determine whether the ball moved forward 10 yards for a first down. Why hasn't this happened, yet? Obviously not all calls can be determined by technology, but it is feasible for certain instances. What would be the ramifications if something like this WAS introduced, and why has it taken so long?"

3 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Photo finish by Kelson · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So, how old is the phrase "photo finish," anyway?

  2. The human factor makes the game by bluGill · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The human factor of umpires that are failable make the game. Despite a few who are dishonest, most officials try their best to be fair, even when it is against the team they want to win.

    I don't want to see robots play sports. In theory (the Jetson's universe) watching robots play is just a case of waiting to see who's bearings wear out sooner.

    Now in amateur sports a robot ump would be nice. When it is just me and someone at my level on the racquetball court it would be nice to have something that knew all the rules to tell them to us, not to mention call violations where neither of us know that rule. However I cannot afford to pay for a device to call racquetball games, nor could I afford membershim in a gym that would have it.

  3. FIFA by orasio · · Score: 4, Interesting

    FIFA is using a radio chip so the ball can say it scored a goal, in a football game (the sport you play with your feet).

    This is an early announcement:
    http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1 384236,00.html

    They did use it for the Sub-17 World Cup, last month in Peru.
    They refuse to use video, because they say it goes against the spirit of the game.