Buttkicker is a ridiculous-sounding and strangely enticing '4D Sports' system that enables hockey fans to experience the tactile pleasure of watching games from front-row seats and seeing players crashing into the boards right in front of you.
Developed by the San Jose Sharks, Comcast SportsNet California and The Guitammer Company, the Buttkicker uses a series of sensors installed on the boards at the SAP Center where the Sharks play their home games. When sensors detect a heavy impact, they send a signal to Comcast's game broadcast, which then relays those signals to viewers' $300 Buttkicker kits. The kit's transducer is placed under viewers' couches' legs.
As a result, every harsh impact on the board leads to your couch shaking, helping you truly feel like you're there witnessing the action in person.
What's Driving This Trend
- 4D Sports Gadgets
- The emergence of 4D sports systems enable fans to experience the game as if they were physically present.
- Smart Sport Sensors
- The development of smart sport sensors and the internet of things (IoT) creates opportunities for real-time, immersive sports experiences for viewers.
- Tactile Viewer Enhancements
- Incorporating tactile enhancements for viewing experiences can offer a new level of immersion for sports fans.
Who This Affects Most
- Sports Technology
- Companies that specialize in sports technology can develop and market new systems to create more immersive experiences for fans watching games from home.
- Broadcasting
- Broadcasters can explore integrating sensory technology to enhance sports viewing experiences and attract more viewers to their platforms.
- Home Entertainment
- Manufacturers of home entertainment systems can incorporate sensory technology into their products to create an immersive viewing experience and compete with traditional sports experience.
