NFL teams may replace playbooks with iPads
A few NFL teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, might soon be joining the 21st century by adopting of iPads to replace their paper playbooks and game-day printouts. This could help keep some teams from using over 5,000 pieces of paper per game!
Not only would this help save some trees but think of the possibilities for the teams as well. No longer will they need to wait for a photo of a defense to be printed out -- they can get those pictures wirelessly on their iPads with the ability to zoom in for details. Also maybe they could get video of a great play for the players to take a look at and see what worked for them. All of this would be live and in the moment with annimation and depth rather than printed on a piece of paper.
One thing halting the process as of now is teams aren't exactly sure how secure the iPad really is right now. Yes they know it can be remotely wiped so if it was lost all their plays wouldn't be public knowledge but they want to know no one will be able to gain remote access to their intellectual property (their plays). Other tablets could take the iPad's place with the NFL if teams decide they are overall safer to use than the iPad so hopefully they figure it out or maybe Apple can help reassure them of their safety.
Would you like to see your favorite team sporting iPad's on the sidelines or are you a traditional fan and think there isn't a need for them on the sidelines?
[ CNet ]
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Hmmm. I can already see the sidelines littered with broken iPads. There money though.
Other than that, great idea.
I'll have to agree broken iPads will happen. Even with that said insted of wasting 5,000 sheets per game which will already be cut as it is whether or not they use them. The fact of whats needed to produce the iPads is pollution as it is.
you honestly think an NFL franchise won't have spare iPads ready ?
*their
Yea, because a paper copy is so much more secure than an iPad. Fail
Why not the RIM PlayBook? It's named appropriately
+1
And it'll probably have better OTA security too.
Because their battery wont last longer than the break !
That would be a good idea, honestly. I don't know how teams haven't switched over to new technology already. I mean, they have these super alien technology ultra light helmets, why not ditch the chalkboards and paper?
Tablets are a natural replacement for playbooks and for research, but sideline use is problematic. As somebody who interned on the sidelines at Candlestick Park back when it was called that, I see these problems:
1) Scribble factor. Tablets are not as fast or as flexible to sketch something out in a hurry. They also are smaller than most sheets or boards needed to sketch things to groups of players.
2) Screen factor. Day games are sunny; night games are almost as bright. The iPad screen does not do well in these situations, especially given that much of the use will be 3-6 people crowded around it at once. The people on the edge of the huddle will not see much.
3) Durability. Accidents, tantrums, and the occasional gatorade bath.
Unlike most businesses, most NFL teams explicitly hire coaches and GMs to do things "their way" -- and the above 3 things would cramp the coaches style/limit their way of doing things. That will not be tolerated, though all it will take is a coach seeing enough of a competitive advantage in tablets for a team to jump on it.
This is 100% accurate. Decision on the sideline are all about speed---scribbling, drawing X's and O's....it's a fast paced game. The iPad is nice, but it is not made for creating schematics on the fly, which is needed in the NFL.
Never happen. Unless murphy's law can be eliminated there's no way.
In addition , hello... Cost?! Laminations n paper have to be WAY more efficient in an extremely active n timely environment like that.
I'll laugh if any team let's that happen .
there are already laptops with teams for printouts so i could see it there. it's basically a one to one thing. but i don't remotely see a future where most coaches have tablets instead of paper for the reasons mentioned above but also partly cause paper is light and easily portable. plus it would get heavy constantly holding that thing over your mouth when your calling plays. but i could see uses in other ears like maybe up in a coaches box or to track stats. Don't know how much advantage it would have over other platforms, like a really thin laptop. seems like a matter of preference to me. I think there are plenty of places it can become useful but i don't see it for every function. like i was watching cnbc and they had 4 people on the show, and all kinds of tech on the reporters desk. but there were two ipads, and 4 laptops, and 3 cellphones. so clearly all 4 still had use for their laptop.
I could see a tablet being used over a laptop and thin laptop for quicker simple input plus the ability to protect them better. Put on something like a heavy duty OtterBox and the tablet is likely to survive more than a laptop would even with the increased mobility that would come with using the tablet over the laptop on the sidelines.
Actually ..
What they should do is go with an Android tablet.
A generic one built specifically by Android developers for the NFL . .that way they can build their own security wall around it. Something that is mass produced like the Ipad can be hacked easily.
@Jerry.
Is it impossible for you to not bring Roid into everyone of your posts? Have you ever tried being objective? Let's say, once? Or will you continue to run with the rest of the "Roid Trollers?"
BTW. The CEO of Samsung admitted this week the "iPad killer" device called Galaxy Tab had sold below his expectations. But you wil probably argue that point with a "Roid rage" dissertation...........dig in, sport!
Good idea and I can see it happening at some point. My only thing is the gloves they wear and using those with the ipad. Also, what about cold, rain, and extreme weather. But would be nice to see especially since majority of players are tech savvy and already use ipads. It would be a nice position to create within a team to explore the options and do some trials during training camps and preseason games.
That's a good point. Extreme weather would be a hamper on using iPads strictly. However if teams use iPads eventually I'm sure they will have backup plans just in case.
Meh. Football (soccer) managers in Mexico have been using iPads for a while now. http://www.mediotiempo.com/tecnologia/noticias/2011/01/31/las-mejores-ap...
This could work in honest opinion. It might even help them depending on what type of programs they run on it. I agree with whoever said that seeing in certain types of lighting would be an issue. I don't agree with who ever said the coaches couldn't scribble plays on it. This is the NFL were talking about here, not sandlot football. If you see any coaches drawing plays in the dirt this Sunday let me know. Lol.
Green Bay Packers = Fail
This folks is what you call a dbag post
That would be cool for them to use ipads. I'm sure security is a big concern but I know they can make an app or two maybe even one for each team. They would be able to get alot of info fast on it too.