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The Sacramento Kings Are Putting Google Glass on Their Players, Mascot, and Dancers

The Sacramento Kings are officially the tech geeks of the sports world. Just a few days ago, the Kings organization became the first professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin (people to purchase...
The Sacramento Kings Are Putting Google Glass on Their Players, Mascot, and Dancers
Written by Josh Wolford
  • The Sacramento Kings are officially the tech geeks of the sports world.

    Just a few days ago, the Kings organization became the first professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin (people to purchase tickets and merch with the digital currency). Now, they’re strapping Google Glass on people and broadcasting the action on their jumbotron.

    From the Kings:

    The technology will allow fans at the game, and viewing at home, to witness the courtside experience through the eyes of Slamson, Kings dancers, sideline reporters and others closest to the action live as they stream their first-person views through Google Glass. The Glass broadcasts are the latest new technology feature the Kings are testing to improve the in-arena experience for fans.

    The experience will be powered by CrowdOptic, a software platform which analyzes the real-time Google Glass feeds and curates them by their subject matter and quality, exporting only the highest quality live footage to the arena scoreboard.

    “Fans could simply aim their smart devices to inherit someone else’s Google Glass view, or evaluate concessions lines. It is just a matter of time before Google Glass is an integral part of the fan experience of watching live sports. We are very excited about the many future possibilities working with CrowdOptic,” says Kings President Chris Granger.

    From the preview video below (filmed at a recent home game), it looks like players are going to wear Google Glass too – though I doubt the wearable tech will make an appearance during actual gametime.

    This isn’t the first time we’ve seen how Google Glass can take sports fans inside the experience. Last year, NFL punter Chris Kluwe showed us training camp through Glass, a top NBA prospect wore the tech to the Draft, and Google Glass took a trip to Wimbledon.

    Google has acknowledged Glass’ “potential in the sports realm” to connect athletes, coaches, and fans in new ways. What do you think?

    Image via Sacramento Kings, YouTube

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