Introduction
The technological innovations applied in the sports advance very quickly providing innovations that renew the way of practicing the different disciplines of the sports world.
In Tennis the technology is an integral part of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals), WTA (Women's Tennis Association) and ITF (International Tennis Federation) tennis tours, featuring at the Masters Cup in Shanghai, the US Open, the Australian Open, the Wimbledon Championships and all high-profile events. Some of new technologies in tennis are the next ones:
LINE-CALLING SYSTEMS: Hawk-Eye
What is it?
Hawk-Eye it is a computer system used in diverse sports, as the tennis, in order to be able track the path of the ball. The computer system generates an image of the path of the ball that can be used by the judges to decide about doubtful plays.
How it works?
All Hawk-Eye systems are based on the principles of triangulation using the visual images and timing data provided by at least four high-speed video cameras located at different locations and angles around the area of play. The system rapidly processes the video feeds by a high-speed video processor and ball tracker. A data store contains a predefined model of the playing area and includes data on the rules of the game.
The system generates a graphic image of the ball path and playing area, which means that information can be provided to judges, television viewers or coaching staff in near real time
ON FAVOR
“Yet another terrific step forward for tennis, something that will benefit players and spectators and bring more intrigue into the game. Based on my experience in the booth with this technology, we’ll all be surprised at how good the linesmen’s eyes are compared to the players.”
Jim Courier
“The balls moving so fast these days that sometimes its impossible for anyone to see, even a trained official. With instant replay we can take advantage of technology and eliminate human error. Having just a few challenges will make it both fun and dramatic for the fans at the same time.”
James Blake
“In my 20 years in professional tennis, this is one of the most exciting things to happen for players, fans and television viewers. This new technology will add a whole new dimension to the game."
Andre Agassi
AGAINST
In the 2007 Dubai Tennis Championships, defending champion Rafael Nadal accused the system of incorrectly declaring an out ball to be in following his exit.
The umpire had called a ball out; when Mikhail Youzhny challenged the decision, Hawk-Eye said it was in. Youzhny said afterwards that he himself thought t
he mark may have been wide but then offered that this kind of technology error could easily h
ave been made by linesmen and umpires. Nadal could only shrug, saying that had this system been on clay, the mark would have clearly shown Hawk-Eye to be wrong.
Dubai 2007 Hawkeye dispute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak8GRRFBN54
ADVANTAGES
· Hawk-Eye is the most sophisticated officiating tool used in any sport. It is accurate, reliable and practical, also is the only ball-tracking device to have passed stringent ITF testing measures.
· Give Umpires the Tools to do an even better job: Tennis umpires demonstrate outstanding accuracy in their judgment. Yet professional matches often hinge on one or two points during a key game in a tight set. An incorrect call can have a major effect on the final outcome. With the lightning pace of the modern game, a degree of human error is inevitable. Hawk-Eye ensures that officiating remains infallible.
· Provide an Accurate Coaching Tool: Match statistics in an easily understandable form are every tennis player’s dream. Hawk-Eye can help players to understand their games and improve.
DISADVANTAGES
· The Hawk-Eye Innovations website states that the system has an average error of 3.6 mm. The standard size of a tennis ball is 65 to 68 mm. This means that there is a 5% error relative to the diameter of the ball.
Very interesting to read about it more in depth since I personally have been involved in the tennis refereeing environment for several years during high school.
ResponderEliminarAnd I can assure you, even if you have so many line referees around you, people still make mistakes. And, luckily, most players accept them to a certain extent, because they know how difficult it sometimes is do make a call.
The Hawk Eye technology has certainly helped the sport, in my opinion, even if only from an entertainment point of view (which some people think that's it's sole purpose). And I've been lucky enough to actually go behind the scenes and take a look at the room from where the whole thing is operated. Each of the many cameras is backed up by a computer (so there's easily a dozen of them in there) and thanks to special calculations they're able to put the trajectories of the different angles together to define where the ball bounced.
Despite the sophistication behind this technology, they told me it can still have up to a 5% margin for error. If you've seen the Hawk Eye in action on TV, you know how big of a difference that 1 millimetre can make!
Fact is that now players are not only complaining to the referees, but also to the technology. And since tennis is dominantly a mental game, that extra factor of distraction or source of frustration can have consequences on a player's game.
FROM CLAUDIO: in reply to Dobrev and the article, there is always a margin of error, human or technology, but an error of 3.6 mm is far less than that of a human being. I'm not a scientist but i would assume that human margin of error is much greater!
ResponderEliminarI am totally pro Hawk-eye technology and the ITF has put in the regulation to use it but not to abuse it. Since the technology has been introduced i've seen it used in almost every match that had the technology available and there were always errors from the umpires. If we think that it takes only 4 points to win a game 1 point can make a big difference, especially at different points during a match.
In addition it has brought more to the fans with those seconds of suspense and it is a new source of revenue for tournaments as they can show sponsors' names and brands when showing the hawk eye.
Good argument Claudio. And yes, the "use it but not abuse it" rule of thumb is to some extent also reflected in the fact that a player "only" gets 3 challenges per set (only losing one if his/her judgement was wrong as opposed to the referee's one).
ResponderEliminarGenerally speaking I am against these things. I believe that this is what makes sports interesting and this element should not be deleted by technology.
ResponderEliminarWhat should we discuss than on the next day? Just that one player was better than the other? That would be a bit boring. The biggest discussions and arguments are based on unclear decisions of referees. Even though it can hurt sometimes, when your team or player get a disadvantage, but still this is what makes it so interesting to talk about.
I personally like the Hawk Eye, as posted it ads value to the spectators/viewers experience and to the tournaments (sponsors) and with the current implementation (only 3 challengers per set) it does not make the game to computerized.. I really hope this is not changed in the future as I fear to much Hawk Eye will ruin a the matches, disturbing the players and remove the flow in the matches by taking up too much time watching a big screen showing computerized slow motion !
ResponderEliminarFROM CLAUDIO: @Johann, i don't think that in tennis the argument is around mistakes. In football that is true, an offside not called, a penalty not given are all issues that initiate big arguments, and it is definitely interesting. On the other hand, in tennis, you rarely discuss a ball out or i, but a mistake still causes a unfair loss/gain of a point. Therefore the hawk eye rewards the real results and performance of a player and doesn't allow an umpire to unfairly decide a point.
ResponderEliminarMaybe it's a big contraversy what i'm going to say, but shouldn't "mistakes" be or somehow form part of the 'game'?
ResponderEliminarIm with Claudio in this one. I do think the "Hawk Eye" was a great implementation for the sport but it is also important to set up a limit (3 challenges per player) as it is now.
ResponderEliminarAn all this controversy and mistakes that you guys are talking about will still be part of the game no matter what thanks to the limit of challenges the players have.
For example, as a big NFL fan I always see controversial decisions and plays that occur even tought each team has 2 "Challenge" opportunities per Half. And this is because of the limited amount of Challenges that are implemented in the Sport.
Uncertainty will always play, its part of life, what we just try to do is try to control as much as we can, to make it as "fair" as possible. Even if sometimes athletes win by a hair, as this Hawk-eye can have an accuracy of 3.6 millimeters, or about the width of the fuzz on the ball. Having that accuracy, there is a chance for error of measurement and therefore someone may lose or win a match point. I would have to agree with Martin. Mistakes is just part of the game.
ResponderEliminarMistakes are part of the game.....so those that are saying this wouldn't have wished that there was the technology in the Inter - Barcellona game to have called the 3rd goal invalid because of offside? Would it not be better for that match to be 2-1 instead of 3-1. And what if Barcelona cannot make it to the final for 1 goal difference..... isn't this human mistake somewhat irritating.
ResponderEliminarOr what about World Cup 2002.... S.Korea against Spain, what if there was the technology to have had a fair refereeing?