Ahh - the world of technology. It never stops does it? In the last few years, the interesting question of tradition vs. technology has been brought up. I’m specifically looking into a traditional activity, such as sports, where technology has had a say in its development.

We can all point to at least one sport where technology has changed how the game operates. In 1999, the National Football League launched an instant replay system, where coaches are permitted to challenge the referees’ call up to twice per game. When the head coach challenges a play, the referee is permitted to watch a video replay of the action. NFL Commissioner, Paul Tagliabue commented, “Our goal is to take advantage of advanced technology to create the most efficient replay system possible.” Since then, NFL coaches have been allowed to challenge certain plays. When applied correctly, instant replay elevated a level of fairness to the game. However, that leaves a few people to wonder - is the tradition of the sport and the new age of technology conflicting?

Let’s take a look at another example. Very recently, the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), and the Sony Ericsson Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) established an instant replay technology that allow players to challenge a linesman’s call. The player is allowed to request a replay twice a set with an extra challenge per tie-break. So if a ball is called out but the player thinks it is in, the player can challenge the linesperson’s call. If the challenge fails, the player loses the challenge - if the challenge is successful, the player retains the challenge. Instead of simple cameras, like in the NFL, professional tennis tournaments will use multiple sensors and a three-dimensional imaging technology. Dr. Paul Hawkins spent a considerable amount of his time developing this innovative technology.

Tennis is a very tradition-rich sport - not much of what was originally played has changed. Implementing this kind of technology, like in instant replay line-calling, is a radical change. American tennis player Andre Agassi notes that “In [Agassi's] 20 years in professional tennis, this is one of the most exciting things to happen for players, fans and television viewers. This new technology will add a whole new dimension to the game.”

But I question- to what extent can technology coexist with tradition? In something as simple as tennis, should technology be implemented? No doubt, even the oldest of traditions has to adapt to the newer technologies. But this is sports! It’s supposed to be all tradition! On the other hand, these are traditional sports existing in a modern world - they have to adapt to modern technology!

My take:
Technology can coexist with tradition. In the case of instant replay with the NFL, I think it was a welcoming addition. The rules clearly limit the use of the technology. There is a strong statistical and technological aspect to American Football that undoubtedly can accommodate the instant replay technology.

I also agree with tennis needing a technological advance, but not for the same reason that the National Football League incorporated technology. Back in the days of wood frame rackets, the fastest balls traveled at around 80MPH - a speed visible to the human eye. However, with racket technology lately, tennis balls travel at more than a hundred miles per hour. In fact, players routinely hit in the 130MPH range! For this reason, I believe that Tennis requires technological integration because even though there is the tradition of linesman making the calls, the nature of the game has changed. Integrating technology isn’t an option as much as it is necessary, as I see it. While tradition should be honored, technology really brings the sport into the 21st century.

In closing, I leave you all with this quote to ponder, by Spanish writer José Bergamin: “Tradition simply means that we need to end what began well and continue what is worth continuing.”