The patent

This is according to filing US 20220046089 A1. It was submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office on February 10th, 2022 (via). The patent suggests the system could be used to enable parents stay on top of the action from the comfort of their home.

Essential reading: Best fitness trackers and health gadgets

The idea here is to create something that would pull data from a network of connected devices. The information would be analyzed and collated by an online portal that would be accessible to a wide network of fans through the cloud. Sources of info would include notes of events during the game from spectators and coaches (via smartphones, laptops, smartwatches, etc), along with more high-tech means such as cameras built into spectator’s smart glasses recording the moment a goal was scored.

The online server would keep tabs on the action. It would put together team and player statistics, along with play-by-play real-time coverage. For example, for a hockey game this could include things such as faceoffs, shots, goals, penalties, time change, period change, a stoppage of play and much more. This info could also be used to automatically update the scoreboard at the game.

If the portal receives conflicting information from differing sources, it could send a request to clarify the discrepancy through a system of upvotes. The information would be corrected based on the majority response.

Potentially, this could also be used to send videos and photos through the communication system. Considering that most youth sports are not televised, it would create the next best thing.

The potential revenue source is big

Youth sports is a big market. This includes everything, from organized sports leagues to amateur activities. According to statistics, the youth sports industry in the US was valued at over 19 billion dollars in 2019. That’s bigger than the size of the $15bn NFL! Projections are that the value of the US sports market in the US will top $70bn in the next four years.

All of this means there’s lots of potential here for a wearable tech company in a time when many brands are looking for alternative sources of income. Now that it has the backing of Google, Fitbit can set its sights beyond wearable tech.

Whether the company is just looking to create a system to collate data or is planning to supplement this with a network of its own connected devices remains to be seen. Of course, this is just a patent so it is not definite it will make it into the real world. Lots of products remain in the patent stage never seeing the light of day. Regardless, it is interesting that Fitbit is looking in this direction as it is quite different from the market it has been involved in so far.

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The NBA currently does not allow the use of wearable technology during official games. This is in contrast to the MLB which has approved a number of devices for use during games. Nevertheless, when training, professional basketball teams are using hi-tech body-monitoring devices to track workloads and movement in the name of injury prevention.

Essential reading: Best fitness trackers and health gadgets

Luckily, you don’t need to wait NBA’s approval to jump onto the wearables bandwagon. Unless you’re a pro, of course. What follows is connected basketball tech you can use right now.

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Wilson X Connected Basketball | 94fifty Smart Sensor Basketball | DribbleUp | Basketball Replay Analyzer | ShotTracker | SOLIDshot Basketball Smart Sleeve | VERT | Hoop Tracker

Smart basketballs

Wilson X Connected Basketball

You would not realise there is anything different about this ball just by looking at it. It is regulation size and weight with Wilson quality grip and durability. There are two sizes to choose from: official (29.5 inches) or intermediate (28.5 inches). The ball has no wires, add-ons to attach to the hoop or wearables to strap on your wrist.

Below the surface the gizmo contains a Bluetooth radio, low-power processor, and three-axis accelerometer, which with the help of some cleverly crafted algorithms track your baskets. Wilson says its algorithms are 98% accurate on makes and misses.

Although you can use it in a game, the ball is primarily designed to track a single player’s shots. After all, no matter how clever, the basketball can’t tell when it has changed possession. This is why Wilson recommends to use the ball and app during solo training.

After your session, open up the accompanying smartphone app for charts and graphs on your shooting statistics. This includes everything from shooting percentages and shot attempts to total time in play.

And don’t worry about re-charging. The battery runs strong for over 100,000 shots – that’s 300 shots a day, every day for a year. After that you can continue on using it as a regular ball, or perhaps trade it in.

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Amazon*

94fifty Smart Sensor Basketball

Another connected basketball comes from an outfit called InfoMotion Sports Technologies. 94fifty is the official Smart Basketball of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. 

This regulation size, weight, spin and bounce ball comes with a Qi wireless charger. It also includes a custom-made bag to carry the ball in.

Inside the basketball are nine accelerometers and a gyroscope, sitting on a circuit board that weighs less than 20 grams. The sensors can detect force (a 360-degree view of it) and speed, ball rotation and ball arc.

The ball runs a lightweight operating system that dissects patterns in motion and can communicate anomalies in less than 100 milliseconds over Bluetooth. You will get instant feedback on every shot and dribble.

94fifty tracks four important metrics: dribble force/speed, shot speed, shot backspin and shot arc. You can choose to work on various skills, or compete head to head against other players through up to 34 different challenges.

This is a basketball you will need to recharge from time to time. But once you do, it will be good for up to 8 hours.

Amazon*

DribbleUp

One of only three connected basketballs on the market, DribbleUP differs in that it does not contain a battery or any high tech electronics inside. Instead, the system relies on the ball and your phone’s camera to track your mechanics and progress. Patented vision tracking algorithms lock onto the ball’s surface to track its location in real-time, even when its not in full sight of the camera.

Created by two young brothers from Brooklyn, the ball measures your crossover speed, dribble hesitation, endurance level and track your dribbling live with an interactive dribble speed meter. You will essentially get a virtual coach that guides you through workouts and provides expert analysis.

Just choose a workout, scan the ball and get right into it! You can select from the large library or let the app recommend one based on your skill level. There is also a 30 day training programme.

Built from premium microfiber materials, this regulation size and weight ball is extremely durable and works in all weather conditions. This is the first and only smart basketball to be used as the official game ball in high school and middle school basketball tournaments around the US.

Amazon*

Other connected tech

Blast Basketball Jumpshot

This is a tiny tracker that you clip to your waistband. The device goes well beyond basic activity tracking, and is equipped with a highly accurate 3D motion sensors to capture performance metrics and detect key events such as acceleration, rotation, and jump height – all in real-time.

With the help of your smartphone, the Smart Video Capture technology allows the Blast app to create video clips, allowing you to easily locate, replay and share your action highlights. The patented Smart Video Capture technology automatically identifies your actions and clips your videos to create a series of highlights. All this is overlaid with your metrics such as vertical height, hang-time, rotation and jump acceleration.

You can also detect key events and identify trends by viewing your movement history. The ball will store all movement data when the sensor is out of range. Everything will download to your smart phone or tablet as soon as you reconnect.

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Amazon*

ShotTracker

Three components make up the ShotTracker system. A wrist sensor which slides into the wristband or shooting sleeve, a sensor that attaches to the net, and the ShotTracker app. The net sensor runs on a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery and is in sleep mode until the user starts shooting.

The first link in the chain is the unit worn by the user. It is very lightweight (9.9 grams), so you hardly notice you are wearing it. The sensor is designed so that it can fit under a purpose-made wrist band or sleeve (sold separately). As the ball leaves your hand, the device sends an alert to the net sensor, which then records the shot.

The app automatically gathers data from both sensors and presents it in the form of real-time stats and shot charts. You’ll get information on every shot attempt, shot success and percentages, as well as a shot map. The app also uses the information to recommend training drills designed to help you work on your weaknesses.

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Amazon*

SOLIDshot Basketball Smart Sleeve

This futuristic looking sleeve guides you to improve your shooting form and consistency. Just turn on SOLIDshot and pull it on. Then dribble, pass, and play just like you normally would.

Using multiple sensors on a player’s shooting arm, the device constantly analyzes motion, recognizes shots, and gives instant feedback the moment the ball leaves the player’s hands. It looks at over 50 metrics of your shot. The data is gathered from three sensors: one on a player’s bicep, another on their forearm and the third one on the hand.

Essentially, this is equivalent to a 120 fps high-speed motion capture system. Four independent computers coordinate hundreds of times per second to analyze your motion in real-time.

Instant feedback helps you build muscle memory. Audio and visual cues on the sleeve let you know exactly what you need to work on. For more detailed insight into your shooting technique, head over to the accompanying app.

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SOLIDshot*

VERT

VERT is an innovative device addressing a rather unique niche market – the wearable tracks and shares real-time stats on your jumps.

This includes vertical height, average height, highest vertical and total jumps during a game. You can use this little gadget for any sport that involves jumping such as basketball, volleyball, hurdle jumping, and martial arts. Or use it to monitor jump rope exercises and warm ups or to compete amongst your friends.

The wearable is designed to be strapped around your waist or chest, similar to a heart-rate monitor. It can be attached either via the VERTclip or integrated within an article of clothing.

The information is stored and can be accessed through a smartphone app or web dashboard. Also, at any point in practice or during the game, you can hold down a button on the side of the device and it will provide you with statistics on your jumps up to that point.

You can also opt for VERT more sophisticated cousin G-VERT. This one tracks and shares more detailed real-time stats including G-force, kinetic energy, jump analytics, power, stress % and appendage asymmetry.

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Amazon*

Hoop Tracker

A number of years in the aking, Hoop Tracker promises to be one of the most complete solutions out there. Simply attach the smartwatch to your non-shooting hand, secure the shot detector on the rim with the mounting pole, select your shooting program, and you’re ready to go.

The system tracks pretty much everything under the sun. The watch will spit out your court location and shooting statistics from that particular location in real time. For post-session analysis, head over to the accompanying smartphone app. This goes into much more detail and shows your shooting performance, progress over time, strengths and weaknesses and much more. There is also a coaching mode which promises to take your game up a notch, contests and challenges.

Its not available just yet, but you can pre-order on Hoop Tracker.com to be first in line when it hits the market. You won’t be charged until the device actually ships.

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Essential reading: Connected tech for aspiring basketball players

The release is slightly odd considering we have not seen yet the Huawei Band 4. But perhaps this is right around the corner.

Bankd 4e works along the lines of last year’s 3e model. You can wear it on your wrist or detach from the wristband and attach to your footwear from where it will help improve running form! You’ll get data such as ground-contact time, eversion excursion, cadence, step length, swing angle, landing impact and foot strike placement. As you’d expect, from that position it will also more accurately track steps.

The main novelty of this version, however, is that it has specifically been tailored for the sport of basketball. To this end its 6-axis motion sensors spits out stats on vertical jump, air time, maximum spring speed and number of jumps.

All of this is synced with the Huawei Sports Health app where you can see an overview of your performance on court. The app also lets you basket training targets and helps to avoid the risk of injury due to over-exertion.

On the wrist, Band 4e functions like your run-of-the mill fitness tracker and monitors basic activity data and sleep. There’s no built in heart rate sensor, though. You also get some smart functionality such as reminders, message notifications, and “Find my phone”.

Huawei Band 4e Basketball Wizard Edition can be used for up to 2 weeks on a single charge, with a three week standby time. Once again the band comes with 5 ATM water resistance so you can wear it worry-free come rain or shine.

The fitness band is currently available in China for pre-order at a price of 129 yuan (around $18). No word yet on international availability but we’ll update when we hear more.

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Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

The wearable is designed to provide coaches with a means to access to their team’s real-time performance analytics. It comes in the form of a sensor that attaches around a players chest similar to a heart rate strap. The data can be collected from different locations, such a gym rehab and on-field practice. 

The gizmo integrates Suunto Movesense sensors alongside Firstbeat’s Heart Rate Variability monitoring software. The wearable has on-board memory and an embedded processor removing the need for a receiver or laptop during sessions. Coaches and performance staff are able to access information from multiple players in real-time or post session via an iPad app. 

This includes key load and intensity data including real-time TRIMP/min for the first time. TRIMP stands for Training Impulse, a single digit calculation that takes into account the intensity and duration of exercise as a way to quantify stress placed on an athlete.

“At Firstbeat, we work with over 1,000 elite teams and pride ourselves on providing physiological insights that give coaches, sports scientists and players the confidence to make the right decisions in pursuit of optimized performance and recovery,” said Veli-Pekka Kurunmäki, Firstbeat Director of Sports Performance Products.

“This new solution makes accessing these insights easier than ever before, whether on the move during practice or during post analysis.”

Pre-orders for the Firstbeat Sports Sensor and Live app are open now. For more info head over to firstbeat.com.

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Essential reading: Connected tech for aspiring basketball players

Speaking at this week’s NBA All-Start Technology Summit, Commissioner Adam Silver gave the world a peak at the basketball jersey of the future. Silver used a smartphone app to switch the player name and number from Stephen Curry’s 30 to Michael Jordan’s 23. He couldn’t change the color, though.

The event showcased how the league might change by 2038. Check out the demo below.

Adam Silver unveils the NBA jersey of the future. pic.twitter.com/h5GePOwOjx

— NBA (@NBA) February 15, 2019

NBA’s Commissioner didn’t explain how this works but it’s not too hard to figure out as flexible e-paper already exists. The tech is advancing with each passing year. E-paper displays are now full color and less than 1 micron thick. Energy is only required when updating and not to maintain information on the display.

One would suspect the jerseys would probably be used for more than just changing player numbers. Advertising is the first thing that springs to mind. The technology could easily facilitate multiple ads to be displayed on the players throughout the game. It’s an interesting concept nevertheless.

You won’t be able to walk into a shop and buy one for yourself just yet. But in the not too distant future it’s not out of the question to see apparel such as this in the shops. It would make switching jerseys as simple as pushing a button.

All this is definitely not good news for those making a living by printing names and numbers on shirts. Let’s just hope NBA players don’t start changing their name mid game to avoid getting fouled out!

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Essential reading: Connected tech for aspiring basketball players

Unveiled yesterday during an event at the company’s New York headquarters, the Nike Adapt BB shoes are an upgraded version of its HyperAdapt 1.0 sneakers from 2016. The 2nd generation utilises a power lacing system called Fit Adapt which consists of a tiny motor and gear train that attach to cords. The apparatus senses the tension needed by the foot and tightens accordingly.

All this is controlled through the Nike Adapt app or manually via a pair of buttons on the outer side. For example, a player can loosen a shoe during timeouts, and tighten when the game re-starts. The system will even remember the perfect fit according to different activities.

These will be the first smart shoes from Nike with the option to receive firmware updates. For example, a forthcoming feature will allow players to prescribe a different tightness setting for warm-ups. The sneakers currently don’t provide any data but that is coming as well, Nike says.

The shoes have a 505 mAh battery that can last between 10 and 20 days between charges, depending on use. To refuel, simply leave them on the shoe-sized Qi-compatible mat for three hours.

The sneakers will set you back $350 and will begin shipping on February 17th. This is a rather hefty price tag but it’s still much affordable than the $720 of the first generation. Nike has started with basketball, but intends to roll out the tech across a range of sports.

“We picked basketball as the first sport for Nike Adapt intentionally because of the demands that athletes put on their shoes,” said Nike VP creative director of innovation Eric Avar in a statement.

“During a normal basketball game the athlete’s foot changes, and the ability to quickly change your fit by loosening your shoe to increase blood flow and then tighten again for performance is a key element that we believe will improve the athlete’s experience.”

Puma is also said to be flirting with the technology. The German multinational company is planning to release a limited run of 30 self-tightening sneakers that users will be able to control via a smartphone app.

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ShotTracker brought elite-level analytics to coaches, players, broadcasters and fans at the first-ever Jr. NBA World Championships this summer.

Essential reading: Connected tech for aspiring basketball players

32 top 13 and 14 year-old boys’ and girls’ teams from around the world participated. The tournament took place between August 7th and 12th at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. This was one of the first competitions to empower coaches with real-time player analytics.

This was made possible by ShotTracker sensors. All players wore them in their shoes and the basketball also contained a chip allowing it to communicate with the system.

Each coach was given an iPad to use during the tournament with the ShotTracker Team app. This aggregated real-time data helping coaches make vital decisions during time-outs and critical moments. Post game they received detailed statistical breakdowns for all teams and players participating in the tournament.

This level of data also enhanced the experience for fans and parents on the stands, as well as FOX Sports viewers. The network broadcast 16 games and their commentators had their own iPads with access to the stats. Check out the video below for a glimpse at the data that was made available.

“ShotTracker is thrilled to partner with the 2018 Jr. NBA World Championship and support the next generation of basketball with next generation technology and analytics”, said Davyeon Ross, co-founder and COO of ShotTracker prior to the start of the tournament.

“We’re passionate about the future of basketball and proud to work alongside the Jr. NBA to champion this first-of-its kind global youth tournament with the extraordinary power of live analytics.”

Fitness trackers and smartwatches are a dime a dozen these days. Basketball has been slow in joining the party, but this is quickly changing. Now there is a healthy range of products that are helping both amateurs and professionals improve their skills on the court.

Source: Shottracker

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The San Francisco outfit announced a three year partnership deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. This is the first time a wearable tech company has linked up with an NBA team. The Timberwolves were among four other teams bidding for Fitbit’s business.

Essential reading: Choosing the right Fitbit tracker

You won’t see its fitness trackers on players wrists though, as NBA regulations prohibit the use of wearable technology during official games. Instead, it will be used between matchups, to track areas of sleep, recovery and nutrition.

“This is going to change the way teams evaluate these types of deals and relationships going forward,” said Timberwolves CEO Ethan Casson.

“This is different than anything I’ve seen before.”

As part of the marketing collaboration, beginning with the 2017-18 season Fitbit will gain advertising space in the team’s stadium and will be featured on a jersey patch. Its wearable technology will also be used to improve the health and fitness of Timberwolves players, coaches and staff.

“They weren’t just looking at this as a jersey sponsorship,” Fitbit chief marketing officer Tim Rosa said.

“They were looking at it as an opportunity to tell a bigger story around innovation and health and wellness.”

The jersey patch will debut in October during two exhibition games against the Golden State Warriorsas part of the 2017 NBA Global Games in China. The wearables will also be used with the Iowa Wolves team, which will serve as a testbed for the technology. The team was recently purchased by the Timberwolves.

“There’s a little bit more flexibility there to experiment and go deeper than at the NBA level,” Rosa added.

“Being able to have access to some of the fittest athletes in the world on a regular basis to look at how sleep and hydration impact recovery is really exciting for the athletes, trainers, and our research teams.”

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Founded by athletes in 2012, the California-based startup uses technology like 3D visuals and interactive training tools to help athletes take their training to the next level. Their products, available for multiple sports and backed by numerous professional athletes, are designed to ensure that you stay on top of your game. To date, Zepp has launched gadgets that help track tennis, football, baseball, golf and softball.

Essential reading: Connected tech for aspiring basketball players 

The company seems to be determined to tackle every sport. Its latest tracking effort focuses on basketball, but this time you do not need to purchase any hardware. All you need is the free app and a good position from which to point your phone’s camera towards the hoop. The app won’t provide you with the detailed intelligent feedback you get with Zepp’s physical products, but its still a great tool for monitoring your performance.

Standz Basketball captures every scoring play automatically, no interaction required. At the start of the session, you do need to line up the backboard within the viewfinder for backboard and hoop detection. Detection will only work on hoops with a net. Video clips are then automatically captured after each shot is made. The app also counts your makes and misses.

At the end of the session the software enables you to create an automatic highlight reel, game recap or video album. You can add instant replays, slow-motion, and special effects to your videos. There is even a social function for bragging rights.

Customers love free stuff. While releasing a freebie may seem counter-intuitive from a business perspective, Zepp does not have any basketball tracking hardware so the app is not competing with any of its existing products. And giving away something for free often supplies value farther down the road.

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Essential reading: Connected tech for aspiring basketball players

There are a number of components to the ShotTracker system. Each player wears a lightweight sensor on their shoe, and uses the technology-enabled Spalding ShotTracker basketball. Permanent sensors are installed around the court to collect all this information and convey a 3D representation of player and ball movement. The system is able to churn out a wealth of stats including shot attempts, makes, misses, rebounds, possession stats, player efficiency ratings and more.

“It’s the first ever collegiate basketball tournament dating back to 1937, and now when you look at the technology that ShotTracker is bringing to the table to really change the game of basketball,” said Marc Boerigter, NAIA manager of sponsorships.

“with how analytics and statistics are delivered in real-time, it made sense for us to be the first basketball tournament to do it.”

All this means a wealth of statistics for players and coaches to sift through, and a better viewing experience for fans. At this tournament everyone have access to these statistics in real-time via the ShotTracker app.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for us, and it’s historical,” ShotTracker co-founder Ross said.

“You’ve got 31 games in six days, so it’s a pretty significant deal.”

ShotTracker (view on Amazon), was originally launched as a wristband to help amateur basketball players improve their shooting skills. The company has since rolled out its ShotTracker Team product, which tracks and provides analytics for multiple players.

Thanks to wearable technology, keeping track of stats on paper may soon become a thing of the past.

Learn more about Shottracker here.

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