The meg ofNASCARfans that air in to find out Winston Cup races every weekend of the NASCAR time of year are see the wash like never before . The race cars of their favorite drivers are glow as they lash around the track at breakneck speed . What ’s get this mystic glow ?
SportvisionTM , the same company that brought you the superimposed1st and TenTMline in football , has createdRACEf / xTMtechnology to enhance the viewer ’s experience .
RACEf / x is similar to the hockey Robin Goodfellow trail engineering science thatFoxonce used in televising National Hockey League games . That puck - trailing organisation used television television camera to give chase the field hockey puck on theice rink , make water it appear toTVviewers that the Robin Goodfellow was glowing . Sportvision is doing the same thing to your favoriteNASCAR race car . As you watch the race on goggle box , commentators choose a gondola that they are talking about . Then , usingGPS satellitereceivers in railroad car sensors and television photographic camera , the RACEf / x system tracks that car and places a glowing halo around it . Viewers can also see graphics superimposed on the screenland above the car , showing statistical information of the car ’s performance .
In this edition ofHowStuffWorks , you ’ll learn how the RACEf / x system tracks car flying around a race track at f number of up to 200 mph . We ’ll examine the benefit this technology put up the telly interview as well as what future app are in shop for RACEf / ten that will make tv viewing even more interactional .
The Basics of RACEf/x
By now , those who regularly watch football game on TV are wonted to see the yellowfirst - down linesuperimposed on the flying field . This line , bring on by Sportvision ’s 1st and Ten system , lease viewers see exactly how far a team must go to make a first down . The 1st and Ten engineering science debut in 1998 , and now , most football game fans , even the purist of the sport , ca n’t imagine watching a game without it .
Using that applied science in motor sport is a turn more tricky , since race cars are moving at super high speed . Imagine trying to hit a locomote target from thousands of nautical mile away . That ’s what RACEf / x does . Using satellites , RACEf / x pinpoints a automobile within mm of its actual position . Then television photographic camera superimpose a tint halo around that elevator car and locate a graphic of information above it as it flies around the track .
Here are the key part of the RACEf / hug drug system :
Currently , lover can not see which cable car are highlighted on the television sieve ; but Sportvision has said that it could eventually give consumers a set - top box seat that would allow them to personalize the cars they need to see . In the next section , you ’ll learn more about the succeeding software of this engineering .
Putting You in the Race
Have you ever need to race alongside and trade blusher with Bobby Labonte or Jeff Gordon at 200 mph ? go up the high bank of theDaytona International Speedwaysounds like playfulness , but few ever get the probability to do it . Traditionally , the Daytona 500 is limit to the top 43 NASCAR race team ; but RACEf / x could before long give the millions of NASCAR fan keep an eye on at home the prospect to put their practical car on NASCAR ’s most famous race track .
In what will be the ultimate in interactive boob tube , the technology behind RACEf / x will also turn your estimator or television into avideo gamethat allows you to pelt along a practical motorcar alongside NASCAR ’s pro racers . to boot , video game developerscould utilize the data collected by the RACEf / x system to make more realistic racing secret plan .
motorcar racing is not the only sport that will gain from RACEf / x – you could soon see this technology used in sawhorse - rush coverage . Imagine watching theKentucky Derbyand image real - clock time stats on the Equus caballus ' amphetamine . You could also race your own practical horse , shaft for position against the world ’s best thoroughbred . RACEf / x opens up a whole raw sports stadium of amusement by merging the power of tv set with the interactivity of television game . Sportvision plans to licence its technology to other television broadcasters who cross racing events .