Technology is moving at lightning speed and we are in a constant run to keep up with it. Beyond just the latest gadgets, we are a society that is eager to ‘connect’ in every way possible. Some psychologists have offered views that our constant state of knowing has placed an added stress never before seen in our society. They recommend that we allow ourselves some down time. One of the most popular stress relievers remains attending a favorite sport competition. This is a time we can have a more personal connectivity and enjoy our favorite teams. The role of the electronic scoreboard has surpassed all expectations as a zone of attention and the 21st century is bringing the scoreboard to the fans as a personal experience.
Most of us take the scoreboard for granted. As the years have passed, we have seen it evolve from a hand held device to keep us updated on the teams score to a colorful LED display with automatic updates and commercials. The electronic scoreboard has entered into this century with a roar – adding visual effects, real time video, and music and offering the marketing groups a pure branding environment. The demand by our society for more continues the challenge for electronic scoreboard manufacturers. Larger sized scoreboards, coupled with high quality sound has given us an almost real-time, on the field experience. Mechanics have been replaced with programmers and graphic designers. So what do we have to look forward to in the next twenty years?
As an avid science-fiction reader and a person of technology, my personal view is that we will soon be replacing the hardware with a holographic presentation. Whether a baseball game or a concert, every fan will enter a field or stadium to see a 3-dimensional presentation above their heads. The view will be easily seen by any seat in the house. Control of the scoreboard will be via a remote team, with one or two individuals on site for information updates. Touch sensitive screens will give them the ability to change views and angles, offer ad-hoc video and insert advertising. Scores will be automatically fed and streamed to the screen.
The scoreboard doesn’t stop there. Fans can sign up for streaming feeds to be updated to their smart phones, at-home televisions that are now full computers and all social media outlets. Sponsors will have their messages sent with clarity and color never before seen. Full on marketing and branding campaigns will be beautifully blended with the action of the game or concert as part of the interactive moment. Advertisers have long realized that the boring commercial is no longer acceptable, so what was once considered an ad will now be a creation of imagination and part of the general entertainment.
In the near future, sensors will be added so that a fan can ‘plug in’ and there will be a shared feel of excitement for each score that is made. This will give everyone the ability have a full game or concert experience.
The human experience of attending a game or concert will, in essence, be taken to the next level of entertainment; offering the color, electricity and excitement to everyone.