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WHY THIS MATTERS IN BRIEF

As physical sports and entertainment merge with digital and virtual forms companies are experimenting with bringing new experiences to the courts.

 

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As we continue to see companies use technology to develop new kinds of games, sports, and arenas, startup Huupe has opened pre-orders on a $4,000 smart basketball hoop, complete with shot tracking, interactive training guides, remote player vs player challenges, and an enormous high-def screen for a backboard – so you can watch TV as you shoot around. Because why not!?

 

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On first glance, this thing looks almost as ridiculous as those internet refrigerators that became a punchline of the noughties. But maybe there’s method to the madness here; I’ll confess to rarely having the attention span to watch TV without having something to fiddle with, and the idea of getting some shots up with Netflix playing on the backboard sounds like a fun way to sneak some exercise into the day.

 

The Future of Sports 2030, by Keynote Speaker Matthew Griffin

 

The Huupe will run a bunch of streaming video services, making this eminently possible. But it’s certainly not its raison d’etre. Let’s back up a bit.

 

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We’re looking at a fully weatherproofed backboard with an integrated high-def screen, internet connectivity and a webcam, as well as some proprietary shot tracking tech. And, of course, you put it up more or less wherever you’d put a regular hoop.

 

See it in action

 

From there, you use a smartphone as your remote control, and get stuck into the Huupe apps. There’s basic shot tracking, which can build you a sweet graphic showing your makes, misses and percentages from different areas on the court. You can analyze how many times you got nothing but net, or benchmark things like your shot trajectory, speed, agility, release time and vertical leap.

 

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Or you can run one of a bunch of different pre-recorded training sessions. Or you can hook up with a live, qualified trainer online, effectively using the backboard as a webcam as they talk you through your workout. Or you can challenge other Huupe users to a game of HORSE (or whatever the kids call it these days), either live or asynchronously, having your score sent to them so they can try to beat it.

All of which is pretty neat, but to my mind the greatest thing about this device is that it’s a big ol’ screen you can goggle at while you keep your body moving. All the better if you’re streaming an NBA game on the backboard. Yes, it’s ludicrously expensive, but that’s smart fitness gear for you. Check out a short video.

Source: Huupe

About author

Matthew Griffin

Matthew Griffin, described as “The Adviser behind the Advisers” and a “Young Kurzweil,” is the founder and CEO of the World Futures Forum and the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures consultancy working between the dates of 2020 to 2070, and is an award winning futurist, and author of “Codex of the Future” series. Regularly featured in the global media, including AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, RT, Viacom, and WIRED, Matthew’s ability to identify, track, and explain the impacts of hundreds of revolutionary emerging technologies on global culture, industry and society, is unparalleled. Recognised for the past six years as one of the world’s foremost futurists, innovation and strategy experts Matthew is an international speaker who helps governments, investors, multi-nationals and regulators around the world envision, build and lead an inclusive, sustainable future. A rare talent Matthew’s recent work includes mentoring Lunar XPrize teams, re-envisioning global education and training with the G20, and helping the world’s largest organisations envision and ideate the future of their products and services, industries, and countries. Matthew's clients include three Prime Ministers and several governments, including the G7, Accenture, Aon, Bain & Co, BCG, Credit Suisse, Dell EMC, Dentons, Deloitte, E&Y, GEMS, Huawei, JPMorgan Chase, KPMG, Lego, McKinsey, PWC, Qualcomm, SAP, Samsung, Sopra Steria, T-Mobile, and many more.

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