LONDON, May 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
I've seen technology reach into many areas and improve them. Healthcare, shopping, music, navigation and design have made great leaps forward with the aid of computer expertise.
I never thought I'd see the day when computers could have a positive influence on my favourite rugby team's scoreline. A pitch seems sacrosanct, free of the ones and zeroes that saturate every other part of our modern life.
Yet I'd be grateful if my favourite team adopted the digital assistance IBM provided to the New South Wales Waratahs.
The formidable Australian rugby union team can now foresee significant injury risks to each of their thirty-five strong player squad. It's all down to IBM's predictive modelling platform, analysing performance data from each team member.
This alerts their coach and trainers to take action if the analysis predicts a likely injury for a particular player. We all know how a team can suffer when a key player is absent. The predictive analytics software from IBM is a brilliant way to avoid pain for any sports club, and I mean that literally and figuratively.
So, this process minimises injury and helps create a highly personalised training program for each player. It all begins with collecting biometric data from players during any pitch activity, whether competitive or simply training. Special sensors are placed on their bodies and the data produced is combined with the results of physiological studies and sent to IBM's analytics software.
The insights can be generated into a visual form, making it easy for coaching staff to understand areas of concern for each player.
The Development Manager at NSW Waratahs, Haydn Masters, is certainly impressed. "IBM's system allows us to collate and analyse all these variables, which in turn helps us to best manage each player and, over time, build an accurate picture of what to look for in individual players (and future players) and positions, in terms of predicting injury risk."*
With informed decisions, a team is set to optimise their performance and reach potential success. As a marker of this amazing innovation, along with their considerable experience in technology, IBM has seen NSW Waratahs extend their partnership by a further two years.
Look into how IBM's digital expertise can assist your club (http://bitly.com/QPdfmf )
IBM Predictive Analytics Reduces Player Injury and Optimises Team Performance for NSW Waratahs Rugby Team, http://www-03.ibm.com/press/au/en/pressrelease/42613.wss
The views of this blog are Robert Tickell's own
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