The lives of sports stars and fans overlap in very few ways. Perhaps you’ve got an autograph or posed for a selfie, but it’s likely that’s as good as it got. Most will certainly not have experienced the adrenaline, nerves and excitement of match-day, or even seen at first-hand the facilities that the players use before matches.
Now, however, virtual reality technology is not only making these experiences more accessible, but it is starting to be thought of as a way to better convey match-analysis. It comes at the time of the sports-nerd, as we all strive to attain more knowledge about matches.
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Accenture is a leading global company that provides digital and technological consultation, and since 2011, has been a partner of one of the biggest rugby tournaments in the world: The RBS 6 Nations. They have now released a virtual reality proof of concept; blueprints which demonstrate a virtual experience allowing users to sample the environment of rugby stadiums. This is not the main attraction, though. The technology would also present visualizations of match statistics, trends and data, making it far easier for fans to engage with the analysis.
The concept uses beta virtual reality headsets and development kits to take users out of everyday life and into the behind-the-scenes action, combining the head-gear with scanned images of the stadiums to recreate them. It builds on recent announcements such as New York Jets’ potential use of virtual reality to similarly recreate match experiences in the NFL, and the NBA’s experimentation with the technology.
Starting in the locker room, fans can explore the facilities and interact with various items, before heading out to the player tunnel. After walking through the tunnel as the players do before matches, fans will be greeted by Ben Kay, an ex-England international and World Cup winner in 2003. As part of Accenture’s analytical team, Kay will make use of the match visualizations to explain his thoughts and expertise. He feels it will not only result in fan engagement like never before, but that the technology is only ‘scratching the surface’ for sports.
Virtual reality usually has connotations of simply the ‘coolness factor’, but this shows the potential for it to be much more than that. For obvious reasons, you might not want to get in the middle of a ruck, scrum or mall on the pitch – who would, those guys are monsters. But for getting your geek on, virtual reality might yet prove to be a useful tool. Accenture will certainly be hoping it’s a new beginning for match analysis.