Vicis received more validation today for its high-tech football helmet. The Seattle startup topped a new list published by the NFL that shows the results of its 2017 Helmet Laboratory Testing Performance Results. The league worked with the NFL Players’ Association and its biomechanical experts to assess 33 helmets that could be worn in the upcoming 2017 season and determine which was best at reducing head impact severity experienced by NFL players during games. Vicis’ ZERO1 helmet ranked No. 1. The helmet, which features a unique outer shell material designed to mitigate the forces thought to cause concussions, retails at $1,500 and several NFL and NCAA football teams are… Read More
Fans of the Seattle Mariners might have a lot of questions about why their team is off to a slow start this season. Amazon’s Alexa probably doesn’t have the answers, but the voice-activated artificial intelligence can perform other tasks now at Safeco Field. Guests in 59 private suites at the Mariners home ballpark now have access to Amazon Echo devices enabled with an Alexa skill geared toward helping users further enjoy being out at the old ballgame. With the voice prompt “Alexa, ask the Mariners to …,” users are able to call for their suite attendant and order food and drinks… Read More
Bill Gates admits that he’s normally pretty composed in front of a large group of people, but playing tennis in front of 16,000 did trigger some nerves in the Microsoft co-founder. In a new post on his Gates Notes blog, the billionaire philanthropist provided a recap of the Saturday tennis match in which he teamed with legendary player Roger Federer to take on American pro John Isner and Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready. The Match for Africa charity event at Seattle’s Key Arena raised $2 million for Federer’s foundation. Gates wrote that accepting the invitation from Federer was a “no-brainer” and… Read More
Intel continues to push forward with its virtual reality technology in the sports world. The tech giant today announced a partnership with the PGA Tour to live stream the action from The Players Championship this weekend — specifically, at the famous “Island Green” on hole 17. The company’s “Intel True VR,” its new VR brand that builds off the acquisition of virtual reality startup Voke last year, will power the stream, available to users with Samsung Gear VR headsets and the new PGA Tour VR Live app throughout the 4-day tournament that kicks off Thursday. There will be three cameras — on… Read More
Twitter is doubling down on sports. The tech company today at its first-ever Digital Content NewFronts presentation announced more than a dozen new live streaming content deals, including several sports-related partnerships that continue to add to Twitter’s growing catalog. Among the new deals includes one with the WNBA that will have the women’s pro hoops league stream weekly regular season games on Twitter (20 per season) over the next three years. Another is a new NFL live program produced by the league exclusively for Twitter and hosted by NFL Network on-air talent; there’s also additional on-demand highlights and pre-game video coming as part of an… Read More
