The Glade 4.0

This is interesting. Sort of more of a gimmick camera - throw it up in the air, get a cool panoramic shot - but this article wonders if it could be used in sports.

The sports they're suggesting are football, soccer, etc. - as in how cool would it be to watch a pass or a shot on goal from the perspective of the ball?

But I'm calling it right now - I'll bet that within 15 years, they figure out a way to make the cameras impact resistant, and start using them in baseball. But not to watch the flight of the ball from its perspective (although it would be pretty trippy to go along for a home run ride) ... but for calling balls and strikes. A couple of sensors in home plate, some image processing software, and I'm thinking you could have a ball that calls its own location over the plate.

I'm sure by the time I retire I'll regret not taking this idea to someone. But I would think it's possible.

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This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

I'm quite certain they can do this already by any number of methods: optically, with rf chips, radar...

choosing to do it however, is another matter entirely. I think sports LIKES the human element to refereeing. Many sports STILL don't have an instant replay appeal.

Considering the amount of use they get from a single baseball, it would be pretty damn expensive. And that camera would have to be really stout. A 100mph Verlander fastball crushed by someone like Albert Pujols would take a beating.

If a baseball hits the dirt, it gets replaced with a new one. I think they "mud up" like 12 dozen for every game, and use most of them.

I don't see this as feasible anytime soon.

Not only that but what value would you get from a picture like that other than 'wow, that's cool, now I'm motion sick'...?

TV producers have ruined baseball coverage by focusing on technology instead of the game. I can't stand it when someone hit's a fly ball, and every camera immediately zooms in on the ball, completely ignoring the fact that runners might be running around the bases, or outfielders may or may not be closing in on the ball...

For all the years I have watched baseball, I still just never got this. I understand that a little scuff can likely allow the pitcher to do more with the ball, but does that REALLY affect the game? Every little bump or scuff requires a replacement ball? Why?

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

There are several reasons. One, it does affect that ball a good bit if scuffed up. Two, most of today's pitchers like the feel of a fresh ball. Three, most hitters want a fresh ball also, because it's easier to see. Four, MLB sells the used balls in the gift shop for moneys.

Oh, I know how expensive it would be, and that its not really feasible .. yet. I just want to be on record as having said this now when they start using them in 20 years

_________________
This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

I can't access the video at work, but I'd imagine that with the spin put on a baseball, football, basketball, tennis ball or puck you'd end up with a giant motion blurred mess of swirling colors and lights.

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Did someone say blur?

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Football would be the most feasible, as it has a specific part of the ball that would always be facing the forward direction during a throw. It also spends a lot of time being carried, and could be valuable for determining what happens inside of a dog pile.

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Buckle your pants or they might fall down.

Still, the gyroscopic work required for a baseball would truly fantastic ...

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I would love to watch a comparison between a tight discus slider and a dancing knuckle ball.

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Ezekiel 23:19-20