Update on the "Smartchip"

[colins1993]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5185715-103,00.html

[DerbyRam54]

Presumably every time there's a close call with a goal the journalists won't miss the opportunity to fill a few column inches with this stuff. This article didn't really add anything to what we know, and missed out a lot.
As I understand the technology, it's not just a chip in the ball but also a number of receivers in the stadium linked to a computer that analyses the signals and plots the position of the ball. Presumably the computer stores the coordinates of the FOP/goal etc and as soon as the ball is out of those coordinates alerts the operator.
Whether this will ever make it into the LOAF is debatable. The English premiership was eager to try it out but couldn't because their equipment supplier isn't licensed to use the proprietary technology. Will Adidas share this technology with other manufacturers? Hard to see it being adopted if it locks other suppliers out. Hard also to see this technology being widely useable because of the cost.
And there was no discussion of how necessary this stuff is in football, or what the reaction of referees would be. Way more interesting than the technology! Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should IMHO.

[schmuckatelli]

Hard also to see this technology being widely useable because of the cost.
That's the difficult part, isn't it? It's one thing see it adopted in the English Premier League, but quite another for it to be required world-wide. If FIFA legislates it, then every association has to get on board, and there's more than few places that can't afford high technology.

[chrisrun]

That's the difficult part, isn't it? It's one thing see it adopted in the English Premier League, but quite another for it to be required world-wide. If FIFA legislates it, then every association has to get on board, and there's more than few places that can't afford high technology.
Just because they legislate it doesn't mean it has to be implemented. They can allow the technology to be used, but don't have to mandate that it is used. Just like they allow a fourth official, but don't mandate that the fourth official be at all games. If a good system can be worked out, why shouldn't they allow it?

[IASocFan]

Like beeper flags, smartchip is a technology worthy of testing in controlled circumstances.

Just like cell phones were unthinkable 15 years ago, I can't imagine going to a game now without one. I just leave it in my bag or car when I'm on the field. For emergencies, like injuries, missing AR's, car trouble, can't find the field, they're invaluable.

[DerbyRam54]

I make my living writing and testing software, which has nothing to do with me being a bit of a cynic, but this may end up causing some interesting new issues. For instance, what happens if there is some malfunction with the chip/receivers/computer software that wasn't revealed in the test? Or during the off-season the goals get shifted slightly during repairs to the field, and nobody remembers to recalibrate the system? Confident in the ability of the technology to make the decision the officials have slacked off a bit and...
We have perhaps a bit too much faith in technology and I'm not entirely sure we need it in this case. Besides, look how many great discussions will be lost when this kind of thing is no longer ITOOTR! :)

[Deimos]

There's also additional uses that may come from this. For example, these chips could be in each players shoe, or waistband or wristband allowing the positions to be fed in to the computer.

To do what? Who knows?

[refmike]

We have perhaps a bit too much faith in technology and I'm not entirely sure we need it in this case. Besides, look how many great discussions will be lost when this kind of thing is no longer ITOOTR! :)
The decision of a goal will always be ITOOTR. The chip in the ball will only drive a buzzer on someone's arm (CR or 4th official) but the decision of LEGAL goal will still be made on the field.

[chrisrun]

According to Sepp, the technology will be used at the 2006 World Cup Finals. Of course, he's known for saying some bizarre things, so I'm not going to bank on it just yet...

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/050512/1/3mnq.html