media release
The Future of Sport Just Took to the Field
October 27, 2003
A new breed of elite Australian sports men and women could dominate future sporting events thanks to a world-first electronic coaching tool designed in Queensland.
The creators of Smartspeed™ say it has the potential to change the way the world plays sport.
Smartspeed™ is the world's first Coaching Automation Tool (CAT) consisting of a series of coloured, flashing remote field sensors that track athletes during training and competition to provide them with real-time visual and audio feedback on their performance.
"The system can be used to train and assess critical aspects of sports performance including speed, endurance and reaction time in all land-based sports," Smartspeed™ creator Dr Markus Deutsch, of Fusion Sport, said today.
"It helps coaches get the most out of their athletes, by giving them greater control over the training environment, and it gives athletes the opportunity to make decisions and manage their reactions based on the information provided.
"These are aspects of athletic performance that have never been trained before. The constant feedback and encouragement will really give athletes an edge $mdash; physically as well as mentally."
Dr Deutsch said the Smartspeed™ system also had implications for spectator sports and broadcasting by giving crowds real-time information and instant comparisons with records and personal bests.
The Queensland Academy of Sport and the Auckland Blues (Super 12 rugby team) have already committed to work closely with Dr Deutsch and his team to develop and refine Smartspeed™ in the future.
The system has been chosen as one of six finalists in The University of Queensland Business School's Enterprize Competition and will be on show at the Queensland University of Technology's World Cup Conference and Pre-Conference Workshop.
Dr Deutsch is also the inventor of a revolutionary machine called the Grunt 3000 which has been used by the New Zealand All Blacks and England Rugby Union teams during their World Cup preparations.
Fusion Sport is a member of the Queensland Government's highly successful technology incubator, i.lab.
For more information contact Fusion Sport on 07 3327 9857 or Ann Lund at Media Affair on 07 3300 0172, Mobile 0414 612 324, e-mail ann.lund@mediaffair.com.au