Couch-Rattling Hockey Gadgets

Clean the Sky - Positive Eco Trends & Breakthroughs

The Buttkicker Enables Hockey Fans to Feel Board Impacts

— December 8, 2014 — Lifestyle
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.

Trend Themes

  1. 4D Sports Gadgets — The emergence of 4D sports systems enable fans to experience the game as if they were physically present.
  2. 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.
  3. Tactile Viewer Enhancements — Incorporating tactile enhancements for viewing experiences can offer a new level of immersion for sports fans.

Industry Implications

  1. 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.
  2. Broadcasting — Broadcasters can explore integrating sensory technology to enhance sports viewing experiences and attract more viewers to their platforms.
  3. 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.
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