Football fans will see some new tech on the field. The NFL signed off on using a system that tracks and checks if the team made a first down.

    Before, teams and stadiums used bright orange sticks and chains.  The new process will not completely remove the need for humans to spot the ball. Officials must manually confirm if the team went forward.

    The NFL and Sony are now working together on this tech. Through Sony’s Hawk-Eye system, these tracking services will measure line-to-gain successfully. The process validates if a first down was achieved once the ball is manually spotted.

    Technology is improving it but sometimes the human factor can’t be removed. Depending on the timing of a play, and tracking put it, there is still less than a 20% difference in time for spotting the ball.   Currently, officials need about 77 seconds for the task. It is expected to decrease to 35 seconds.

    In regards to the microchips. Zebra microchips are used in the NFL. However, while they are helpful for tracking data, they cannot determine forward progress to the extent needed. Tackleigh information is a component used to determine a teams performance. The chips can’t capture specific moments of a player's performance.

    A good example was observed in Buffalo’s 32-29 loss to Kansas City in the AFC championship game. The loss was contentious because of the handling.  Josh Allen played the game.

    Microchips have a crucial role in the game, but there are limits on what the microchips can measure. The microchips can't figure out where a player is tackled or if the play clock is handled effectively. The chips can't even be helpful in determining the ownership of a loose ball.

    As for cameras, they are now present in all NFL stadiums. However, discussion was had about their use. They are there to aid in scoring but their use might be broadened.

    The NFL isn’t just about the game on the field. Predictions zeroed in on smart watches. Those would enable the back judge to make decisions quickly. They are primarily supposed to improve the objective information. In the end, if the use is not efficient and the process is not streamlined.

    According to Fields, the NFL is using technology to make the game more efficient and accurate. Technology assists the officials and improves on the play clock.  This is only done after a rigorous testing process.  The goal of the NFL is to make the game better for players and viewers.  After all, it's a  business and there needs to be a use.

    The NFL wants to know if the technology makes more sense to use in the process.

    However, the NFL still relies on human judgement. The league may be resistant to completely eliminating human involvement. This is because there is an emphasis on precision within the game and because of the sheer nature of it.  However the technology must be as precise as the human is but with a faster response. How useful that tech can be is how useful that tech is as a whole.

    Remember that there is an uptick in human involvement. The NFL is still testing new technologies and making decisions. The NFL is also consulting with the Competition Committee. Each test brings out more automated decisions.  Very soon, the league might allow this technology to make more decisions on the field.

    The NFL believes that using smartwatches with officials could be a game-changer. However the advantages of it are limited. The smartwatches could potentially improve the flow of the game.

Why Humans Are Still Key To NFL's Future

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