We've heard of soccer balls that
play a tune when kicked, sure, and we're pumped to see
the World Cup in 3D, but it's not often that someone comes up with a serious technological makeover for the sport that's nearly as old as life itself. CTRUS, however, is just that -- a theoretical revolution in soccer that begins with the all-important ball. To start with, a reinforced elastic structure means that CTRUS doesn't require any air. (So long, pump.) Next, GPS and RFID chips keep track of the ball's position at all times, and tell it to light up in different colors when it scores a goal or is accomplice to a nefarious violation. (Farewell,
referee.) Last but not least, the sphere itself will report back with accelerometers that measure the ball's kick force and travel speed, and a camera that could (with magical software stabilization, of course) actually film action from the
ball's own POV. Sadly, the ball is just a concept from an undercover marketing agency, but since we're dreaming, we urge its creators to add a second camera. Just imagine just how immersive it would be to have your face booted in
at 130km/h in glorious 3D. Or, just peek the concept videos after the break.
posted March 24th 2010 3:11AM
the word conceptual makes storieslike these mean nothing to me. make it then talk. concept this concept that, c'mon MAKE IT. i'm pretty sure everyone on engadget can conceptualize a lot of cool crap way more impressive
@Kaitou KID
I love to see concept cars and gadget prototypes. It's stuff like this that sets my imagination on fire and causes me to wast most of my day thinking about stuff that doesn't exist.
@DDragon i love concepts too, but i'd love them more if people carried through instead of drawing a cool picture then saying, "ok that was nice guys, lets draw some other crap people will never make." i remember nokia's rolled up phone concept...still just a concept. got aborted. died in the womb
@Kaitou KID And why do most concepts never get into the mainstream? Cost! If they're cheap enough for a company to mass produce and make a profit, then they're likely already on the shelves/forecourt now.
@Kaitou KID
Everything you use now was once a concept. So to say concepts such as these will never come to be is in its nature false.
@abedinthehouse
damn, late to the party...some1 already made my point
Good one
@Kaitou KID That doesn't look like a football to me. Too round.
@Kid Red please use this as a reference...
http://www.planobeta.com/wp-content/uploads/futebol-handegg.jpg
@Kaitou KID
All developments are "concepts" first. This new soccer (football) is beyond mind games and into real play... You might want to watch the movies again.
I say bring it on! Great idea!
@MizuInOz no i don't think you understand. things come into existence first just spontaneously, then we conceptualize it to understand it.
@Kaitou KID
I think I understand far better than you realise.
I am an inventor.
I have more than 150 patents to my credit. If you think that things come into existence "spontaneously" then I would hazard to guess that you have not actually gone from concept to proof of principle to working model to commercially viable prototype to manufacture's prototype to commercial product...
I guess all of that might be called planned spontaneity.
99% of the "stuff" I have invented is the result of conceptualisation first. Then I sit with pixy dust and encourage the molecules of the Universe to spontaneously form into some really cool stuff!
Sorry to actually fill your life with facts instead of magical poof fluffys.
Since nanotechnology by all stretches of the imagination is truly working with the invisible - how do you conceptualise it understand it?
One of the technologies that I have developed is 240 microns by 240 microns by 42 microns... (250 microns is the thickness of white card stock - just so you can spontaneously get the idea of how small). When I developed that little system (and it is a system), I had the concept of what I wanted to accomplish - then I tickled the molecules with shazam power and they instantly became a dohicky!
Got it yet? Probably not. I can see by your previous responses that you need to be right. Good luck with your spontaneous Universe.
@MizuInOz: "Good luck with your spontaneous Universe."
i take it you're with the creation theory then? ;)
@mrqs
I laughed out loud (field goal) lol
@MizuInOz LOL This nerd actually replied to my joke seriously.
hilarious dude, you must be inventing stuff like seriousdog and seriouspills because you are one SERIOUS dude lolololol. anything important you invented? name some plz, k thank u come again
I'm sure this will go as well as the new Spalding basketball did in 2006.
But, we'll see ... I won't, but some will.
a better idea would be to let referees have access to cameras during the football games.
@Wiggy Fuzz
Goal line cameras for the win!
@coolblue2000
There are goal line cameras.
Refs will still be wankers though...
i feel like the support structure pentagons would have a different kick response than the other sections - isn't it much more stiff than the mesh?
just a thought.
The camera stuff sounds amazing.
My balls light up when am near a goal too. :)
You mean "Football".
http://eatliver.com/img/2009/3849.jpg
I see no reason why the RFID and lights part can't be done now for relatively cheap. GPS might throw off the balance of the ball.