How cutting-edge technology unlocked human potential and minimized human error at the Rio 2016 Olympics. By Liu Hongzuo.
How cutting-edge technology unlocked human potential and minimized human error at the Rio 2016 Olympics. By Liu Hongzuo.
INSTANT VIDEO REVIEWS
Using video footage to check for human error was only recently implemented at Rio for volleyball and beach volleyball plays. Video reviews improve the game scoring for players, as competing teams can challenge the referee’s decision on the field.
UNDERWATER LAP-COUNTING MONITORS
To aid long-distance swimmers, each swimming lane for 800m and 1500m freestyle events were fitted with an underwater digital lap counter. The counter rests at the bottom of the pool, where swimmers do their lap turns. Every time a swimmer hits the touchpad on the wall, the lap count updates itself.
ELECTRONIC REFEREES
Instead of human judgment, archery now uses an electronic scoring system with a hightech sensor. This sensor is so accurate that it can locate the exact point of an arrow’s head within 0.2mm accuracy, and it can display the score just one second after the arrow hits the target.
