Visa and Samsung Payment Technology at London 2012 Games

Despite fears that internet & phone service me be weak during the London 2012 Games, internet-based technology is still driving forward. Visa and Samsung (both Olympic & Paralympic Games sponsors) revealed today the official mobile payment application for the 2012 Games. The application “enables consumers to make payments through the phone in front of a contactless reader at the point of purchase, while purchase above GBP15 will require a pass code.” It is based on Visa’s payWave technology. The companies added that the application is backed by Visa’s multi-layered security. The application even allows customers to check their payment history and their account balance. This will be a great help to foreign visitors that are not used to dealing in the strong Pound (GBP).

Aside from security concerns, the other major question is whether this form of payment processing will put even more strain on the already questionable network bandwidth. Visa is planning to install more than 3,000 terminals across the venues to accommodate this new payment process. This new technology paired with mobile traffic by fans from more than 200 countries will likely take a toll on the internet service. Experts anticipate bouts of slower service and occasional internet drops during high-traffic times.

Showcasing this technology partnership at one of the biggest sporting events in the world was a strategic move on Visa and Samsung’s part. During those two weeks, the Games will be the focal point of the world. 3,000 terminals will attract the attention of fans and media alike. Obviously this type of grand unveil carries with it great risk; however barring a disastrous hacking incident or great internet crash, it will likely prove a worthwhile endeavor. Ref. html5.tmcnet.com, projectbritain.com, sport.tmcnet.com Pic. Ref. androidguys.com, logostage.com

Braun Successfully Wins Appeal on Positive Drug Test

Baseball fans woke this morning to learn that Ryan Braun won his appeal regarding testing positive on a drug test from last October. The panel ruled in a 2-1 vote that “valid questions had been raised about the manner in which the test sample was handled” according to nytimes.com. Braun is the first player to successfully appeal a positive drug test. Reportedly Braun’s sample was taken on a Friday and stored in the tester’s home refrigerator until a FedEx store was open Monday for him to ship off the sample to the proper testing facilities. This does follow protocol, but the 48 hour delay gave the panel enough doubt to rule in Braun’s favor.

While there appeared to be no tampering to the sample (everything was sealed properly), 48 hours is a long time to be stored in a personal refrigerator. My question is how in the world did this happen? Why is there not a more efficient and instant way to read a drug test? Why does the sample need to be shipped off to some Canadian laboratory? Time is of the essence when it comes to ‘surprise’ testing for drugs. Some drugs are only detectable within days of use. Retesting allows too much time for a player to get the drugs out of their system.

This case will most definitely require a reevaluation of the methods in which drug test samples are handled. (Click here to read more about how drugs are detected in samples.) The NY Times reports that the MLB has already instituted a new rule requiring testers to ensure there is a 24-hour FedEx available to drop-off the sample. This is one step in the right direction, but until players & owners agree on a better way to test; these controversies will be here to stay. Ref. nytimes.com Pic Ref. inquisitr.com

Will Vanishing Spray Make an Appearance in Europe?

Vanishing spray has been making its appearance on the pitch in South America, the US and at last summer’s COPA America. Next month the IFAB, The International Football Association Board (which consists of FIFA and the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Federations) will meet and discuss possibly introducing the spray into certain Europe matches.

The lightweight spray is visible for 45-90 seconds until it disappears. Usually the sprays are natural and biodegradable. Referees use the spray to mark the 10 yards between a free kick ball placement and where the opposing team can line up. Encroaching on the ball is a common issue during free kicks. This problem can mean an unfair advantage for a team or time wasted as the referee enforces the 10 yard rule.

Overall reception of the spray has been positive. It also has appeared to serve its purpose in moving the game along while keeping players in check for encroaching violations. It will be interesting to see how the IFAB rules. The change is somewhat small, especially considering the magnitude of possibly introducing goal-line technology. Even so, purists of the game may be resistant to this change. Ref. soccerlens.com, soccersprays.com Pic. Ref. theoffside.com

Taking the Playbook to the 21st Century

Last season, for the first time, two NFL teams were allowed to use 64 GB iPad 2s as their official playbooks. The teams were the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The digital playbooks stored all the key information players needed and allowed them to interact by taking notes and drawing in changes right on their devices. Coach were able to make changes on their device and every player was able to have the update in no time. The iPad has also been used unofficially around the NFL in other ways too. From viewing videos to checking out scouting reports, coaches and players have been viewing and sharing information this way for seasons.

The major question is, of course, security. Many argue that data on the iPad is actually safer than in the physical playbook. According to Popular Mechanics, the tablets are password-protected with two layers of security. Additionally the tablets can be remotely wiped clean if the iPad is compromised (if a tablet is lost, a player is traded, etc).

What’s perhaps more exciting is the software that teams are coupling with their portable devices. A leading video edit software, XOS, offers coaches the capability to pull up a video and send it to a specific player’s device. XOS is very interesting because it cuts video clips from different viewpoints so all aspects of plays can be evaluated. Coaches can pick which videos/angles are most important for their players to review and send them out immediately.

Currently the NFL does not allow iPads or other such devices on the sidelines during a game, however changes in could be coming soon. Ref. popularmechanics.com, xosdigital.com

The Most Romantic NBA Team Is?

Lucky fans at Friday's Memphis Grizzlies game verses the Indiana Pacers received some extra love. The giveaway for the game that night was special Valentines featuring players with hilarious captions. Check out O.J. Mayo, Tony Allen, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, & Rudy Gay. One thing is for certain, this is some of the best Valentine’s Day marketing I have ever seen. Ref. @ChrisVernonShow, yahoo.com Pic. Ref. Chris Vernon

FIFA to Decide on Goal-Line Technology

By July 2, FIFA will decide the fate of goal-line technology. A long debated issue, FIFA's decision will have a huge impact on the sport worldwide. For more information about the technology check out:

Goal-Line Technology Under FIFA Review

FIFA Dictates Rigorous Goal-Line Tech Testing

Along with goal-line technology, eight proposals and amendments to the sport are being considered before the end of summer. Some of these include allowing a fourth substitution for overtime games, and adding additional assistant referees. Ref. espn.com

Too Much Technology in Sports?

This comic asks the question I have been musing over for more than a year now; is there too much technology in sports? This comic was created by Mashable editor-in-chief and cartoonist Lance Ulanoff. Pic Ref. mashable.com (click to enlarge)

Which Super Bowl Team is Lighting Up Twitter?

While not necessarily a good predictor of who will win Sunday, it's cool to see which team fans are buzzing more about on Twitter. The social media agency Banyan Branch has been collecting Tweets from December 30th through January 29th to see which team has the social edge.

Interestingly, the Giants had more overall Tweets with over 3.5 million in January. However the Patriots 1.6 million Tweets contained more player-specific mentions. The majority of the player Tweets focused on the two quarterbacks. Tom Brady of the Patriots attracted a little less than 700,000 Tweets while Eli Manning of the Giants just broke 350,000.

Click here to see all the Banyan Branch findings. Ref. mediabistro.com Pic. tvjab.com