Proprietary technology takes smart-ball technology to the next level.
CHICAGO, April 7, 2014 -- Wilson announced today a strategic partnership with
SportIQ to develop the next generation of connected products to help
athletes play their best. These sensor-enabled products deliver data to
smart phone or tablet for analysis and gamification, with the first
release slated for the sport of basketball.
The concept behind this
product will be a paradigm shift in the way aspiring athletes practice
and play, moving well beyond existing connected ball technology.
"We
are not pursuing the launch of a digital basketball for the sake of
launching a digital product. Wilson has a long history of true product
innovation," said Alan Davenport,
Global Director of Basketball for Wilson. "This intelligent basketball
brings a unique approach to training through real-time statistic
generation delivered to a smart device. The opportunities for individual
and coach-directed training are truly unlimited."
Wilson partnered with SportIQ, a technology company based in Finland
that specializes in artificial intelligence, to bring this product to
market. The collaboration between SportIQ, which is focused on "making
sport intelligent", and Wilson, with its unmatched knowledge in the
sport of basketball, resulted in a truly amazing breakthrough.
"We
literally taught the ball to differentiate between a made shot and a
missed shot and we deliver this data to a smart device with no
attachments to the rim, no additions of any kind; just a player and his
ball getting better," stated Harri Hohteri, CEO of SportIQ. "During my
career as a professional basketball player in Europe,
I would have benefited greatly from this type of understanding around
my training. What was my shooting percentage from different distance
ranges or areas on the court? What did I need to be working on? We're
now bringing our high basketball IQ to the field of digital technology
to answer these questions."
The
smart basketball launch marks a new emphasis from Wilson in the
burgeoning area of data-driven sports performance. To help accelerate
new solutions in categories where it maintains a leadership position,
Wilson recently established a new Digital Division which will pursue new
consumer-focused technology solutions and partnerships. On the
basketball, Wilson and Sport IQ have filed numerous patent applications
worldwide on the new technology.
"We
recognize the growing trend around the 'internet of things' and are
working to deliver real consumer-centric solutions for the world of
sport," says Tom Gruger,
the new Vice President of Digital for Wilson. "From training to gaming,
we want to delight our target players on this new virtual field of
play. Our upcoming basketball launch is the first step in an exciting
new area of innovation from Wilson."
The smart basketball is scheduled to be released in time for the 2014 holiday season. Consumers are encouraged to visit www.wilson.com/smart where they can register to be the first to receive information on the Wilson connected basketball.
About Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods Co., a division of Amer Sports,
is the world's leading manufacturer of sports equipment, apparel and
accessories. Through its dedication to creating products that enable
athletes at every level to perform at their best, Wilson has earned its
place as a leader in sporting goods for over a century.
About SportIQ
A Helsinki
based start-up, SportIQ's mission is to make sports intelligent by
bringing smarter real-time analytics to every level of sport. SportIQ's
revolutionary technology and advanced data analysis deliver real time
solutions for consumer sporting goods and professional leagues.
SOURCE Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
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