The use of computers in the sport and exercise sciences is now unquestioned. They are employed in the functioning of laboratory facilities, data collection, data handling and prediction of forthcoming outcomes. Recent advances are strongly affected by current developments in computer science and technology. In particular, progress in hardware (processor speed, storage capacity, communication technology), software (tools), information management concepts (data bases, data mining) and media (internet, eLearning, multimedia) gives a great impetus.This book, written by leading experts in the interdisciplinary field of sport and computer science, provides an overview on current fields of research and application covering fields such as virtual reality, ubiquitous computing, feedback systems and multimedia.

Computers are a fundamentally important tool in sport science research, sports performance analysis and, increasingly, in coaching and education programmes in sport. This book defines the field of ‘sport informatics’, explaining how computer science can be used to solve sport-related problems, in both research and applied aspects. Beginning with a clear explanation of the functional principles of hardware and software, the book examines the key functional areas in which computer science is employed in sport, including: knowledge discovery and database development data acquisition, including devices for measuring performance data motion tracking and analysis systems modelling and simulation match analysis systems e-learning and multimedia in sports education Bridging the gap between theory and practice, this book is important reading for any student, researcher or practitioner working in sport science, sport performance analysis, research methods in sport, applied computer science or informatics.

The first book of its kind devoted to this topic, this comprehensive text/reference presents state-of-the-art research and reviews current challenges in the application of computer vision to problems in sports. Opening with a detailed introduction to the use of computer vision across the entire life-cycle of a sports event, the text then progresses to examine cutting-edge techniques for tracking the ball, obtaining the whereabouts and pose of the players, and identifying the sport being played from video footage. The work concludes by investigating a selection of systems for the automatic analysis and classification of sports play. The insights provided by this pioneering collection will be of great interest to researchers and practitioners involved in computer vision, sports analysis and media production.

How a form of play becomes a sport: players, agents, referees, leagues, tournaments, sponsorships, and spectators, and the culture of professional computer game play. Competitive video and computer game play is nothing new: the documentary King of Kong memorably portrays a Donkey Kong player's attempts to achieve the all-time highest score; the television show Starcade (1982–1984) featured competitions among arcade game players; and first-person shooter games of the 1990s became multiplayer through network play. A new development in the world of digital gaming, however, is the emergence of professional computer game play, complete with star players, team owners, tournaments, sponsorships, and spectators. In Raising the Stakes, T. L. Taylor explores the emerging scene of professional computer gaming and the accompanying efforts to make a sport out of this form of play. In the course of her explorations, Taylor travels to tournaments, including the World Cyber Games Grand Finals (which considers itself the computer gaming equivalent of the Olympics), and interviews participants from players to broadcasters. She examines pro-gaming, with its highly paid players, play-by-play broadcasts, and mass audience; discusses whether or not e-sports should even be considered sports; traces the player's path from amateur to professional (and how a hobby becomes work); and describes the importance of leagues, teams, owners, organizers, referees, sponsors, and fans in shaping the structure and culture of pro-gaming. Taylor connects professional computer gaming to broader issues: our notions of play, work, and sport; the nature of spectatorship; the influence of money on sports. And she examines the ongoing struggle over the gendered construction of play through the lens of male-dominated pro-gaming. Ultimately, the evolution of professional computer gaming illuminates the contemporary struggle to convert playful passions into serious play.

Computers, the Internet, Web, mobile, and other digital media are increasingly important technologies in the production and consumption of sports media. Sport Beyond Television analyzes the changes that have given rise to this situation, combining theoretical insights with original evidence collected through extensive research and interviews with people working in the media and sport industries. It locates sports media as a pivotal component in online content economies and cultures, and counteracts the scant scholarly attention to sports media when compared to music, film and publishing in convergent media cultures.

This book provides an overview of current activities in the fascinating area between computer science and sports, presenting the state of the art in utilising the latest developments in computer science to support sports coaches and athletes. It covers a broad range of topics reflecting the diversity of this interdisciplinary field, including concepts in informatics like expert systems, modelling, simulation, machine learning, robotics, and sensor integration. Further, it describes applications of computer science in sports, such as alpine skiing, badminton, football, rowing, and table tennis, as well as interesting applications areas of sport like dementia, physiology, training, and space flights. The appeals to informaticians interested in the application field of sports as well as for sports scientists and practitioners looking for advanced methods in their particular sport.

Grade level: 10, 11, 12, i, s, t.