Sports Technology & Communications News from Around the World

For anyone who's ever been to a live event, the issue of perspective is an important one. The best seats in the house are often the most expensive, because such seats offer the best perspective on the event. The 50-yard line seats, the center court seats, the front-row seats and the like all command the best perspectives, and therefore the best prices. But with MELD Technology's new line of white space transmitter, the perspective of the best seat in the house can become a lot more accessible to everyday users.

A combination of efforts between MELD Technology and development partner West Pond Enterprises, the company's MT300AVF transmitter and MTRXm receiver are set to potentially change the way we view live events. The transmitters in question are designed to work with a variety of mobile devices, ranging from smartphones to tablets, and can commonly produce between three and four hours of live video from a host of perspectives, regardless of where the viewer happens to be. West Pond Enterprises, meanwhile, kicked in the stream management technology that actually allows the system to work without the need for Wi-Fi transmissions. Instead, the system turns to a communications technology known as television whitespace, here referring to bandwidth that would commonly be used for television signals, or would have been before the advent of digital television. Thanks to the use of this space, MELD Technology and West Pond Enterprises can deliver what amounts to multiple HD video streams all at once, allowing spectators to essentially be in several places at once to catch the action from most any angle.

Reports suggest that the technology was actually tried out at two sporting events so far: the Russell Athletic Bowl and the Capital One (News - Alert) Bowl. The reports further noted that those who tried it out “...responded with sheer amazement at the experience.” This is a development that most any sports franchise would likely love to have on hand.

Indeed, technology is fundamentally changing the nature of live events as we know such events today. While some had thought that live events would eventually die out—no pun intended—due to technology, instead we see that technology is being built into the experience to help augment it and give it that extra value that's necessary to keep live events going in the first place. Live events are under particular fire these days, between a still-fragile economy driving down tourism rates and a growing capability for streaming. Facebook (News - Alert)'s recent purchase of the Oculus Rift system may well put an even bigger damper on travel, as eventually, potential travelers may find little reason to leave home, with all the benefits of a museum or the like available easily online. The Oculus Rift in turn may be able to suitably replicate the experience of going to a show, or to a football game, or anywhere else just by streaming video directly to the supremely immersive head-mounted display.

Only time, of course, will tell if live events can remain truly viable in the face of ongoing technological development. But it's clear that live events aren't going out without a technological fight, as items like the MELD Technology transmitter and receiver combination look to open the field.