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How the Rise of Machine Learning is Impacting Sports - By Azgari Lipshy

The use of machine learning in sports is rapidly expanding, with new advancements and applications appearing annually. The games themselves are the only thing that won't be enhanced by technology and data.

“We need to build AI into our digital infrastructures on a global scale so that it helps people make their livelihoods more accessible and more comfortable.”

Sport has the power to connect people, and its impact is more vital than ever before. Interestingly, today’s audiences are digitally savvy and anticipate an immersive experience when it comes to sports. Machine learning and AI have opened up new sports data analytics opportunities. We’ve seen a surge of new technologies such as virtual reality, drones, connected fitness devices, and Internet of Things devices that we can combine with machine learning to unlock new insights from data sets. To help you have a closer look at how the rise of machine learning is impacting sports, I’ll discuss various examples of the specific benefits enjoyed by its implementation. 1. Data-driven Insights Data is at the heart of the transformation happening in sports. With insights from data, teams can make critical strategic decisions such as player recruitment, ticket pricing, and marketing campaigns. It can also help inform coaching decisions and provide players with performance analytics to boost their performance. Many organizations are leveraging data to create engaging experiences for audiences. For example, data insights can drive more personalized content and tailored experiences based on individual preferences. The impact of data is evident in the product and service offerings. Innovative product-led services like Amazon’s assistance with Alexa revolutionize how we consume and buy products. Consumers demand a personalized and seamless experience that is quick, convenient, and easy to use.

2. Virtual Assistants With the rise in machine learning, virtual assistants are evolving from a gimmick to a necessity. Athletes, teams, and coaches receive automated insights, alerts, and advice from virtual assistants. Virtual assistants are essentially AI bots trained to provide insights from data. They can monitor and manage various tasks, such as schedule management, practice tracking, nutrition, sleep, and recovery. Virtual assistants also provide real-time alerts to help athletes and coaches focus on performance. For example, they can send notifications when players miss a workout, alert coaches if a player is underperforming, or even monitor the team’s progress towards a specific goal. Virtual assistants make it easier to manage and track large amounts of data. They can also provide personalized insights based on individual preferences.

3. Advanced Statistician Tools The rise of data collection and machine learning has also led to advanced statistics tools. These tools help coaches make informed decisions about their team’s performance based on factors. Coaches using advanced statistical tools can easily access data from different games, seasons, and competitions. They can also dive into detailed data to identify success or failure factors. This data can inform strategic decisions such as team selection, game strategy, team training, and roster management. Some data points that coaches can analyze include team formation, time on the ball, shots, key passes, defensive errors, and possession. Advanced statistics tools can also create visualizations that help coaches understand team performance and make strategic decisions. Visualizations can display key performance indicators, game patterns, and game anomalies. Coaches can also use these tools to create team progress reports and track performance.

4. Game Analysis Software Game analysis software is a computer program that can be used to track data related to any sporting event. It is widely helpful in various sports, such as baseball, basketball, soccer, and football. Game analysis software has traditionally been used to track and record data related to team performance. Nowadays, game analysis software is leveraging the rise of machine learning to provide detailed insights from data. It can be used to analyze game patterns, the performance of individuals, and team strategies. These programs can automatically record statistics related to the game. They can also track and record data related to the performance of individuals or specific segments of the team. For example, a baseball team can use game analysis software to record the pitcher’s performance statistics. Depending on the type of software sports use, machine learning also helps to generate visualizations related to the data. Coaches can use these visualizations to understand performance anomalies and make strategic decisions.

4. Drone-based Video Analysis For more than a decade, football clubs have been using video analysis to review performance and identify areas of improvement. However, this process was tedious and time-consuming. Nowadays, machine learning has become increasingly crucial in video analysis.

This has led to the creation of drone-based video analysis, which is more effective and efficient. In sports, drones with built-in cameras can be used to capture high-quality videos of team training sessions, which help to review performance and identify areas for improvement. Drones can also be used to create video montages of games by capturing key moments from the players' perspective. This form of video analysis provides a new view and can be used to identify patterns and game anomalies.

5. Mixed Reality Environment Development With the rise of machine learning, mixed reality is being used to create immersive experiences for players. This technology creates a virtual environment using computer graphics and projects it onto a real-world setting. Mixed reality environments can be used to simulate playing conditions, host a game at a particular venue, and train in difficult weather conditions. They can also be used to train players in virtual settings, such as practicing passing in a closed environment. Conclusion The rise of machine learning is transforming sports in ways that have never been seen before! It is opening up new opportunities for data analytics by combining different data sets to create a more accurate representation of real-world events. With the help of machine learning, sport is evolving into an immersive experience where fans can be a part of the game through virtual and augmented reality. Spectators can experience the game like never before as they can be integrated into the game. This will be an incredible way of engaging fans and expanding the sport's reach. About the Author Azgari Lipshy writes about technology, yoga, and her solo travels worldwide. She is a degreed quota-carrying technology industry sales and account management professional with progressive territory growth for enterprise and channel sales. She is an annual achiever who has worked as an individual contributor, key account manager, and sales organization team leader.

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Blockchain in the Retail Industry - By Azgari Lipshy

The retail industry seems to be under pressure like never before. With e-commerce giants like  Amazon rising, brick-and-mortar stores barely manage to keep up. But could blockchain technology offer substantial help in the retail industry? I’ve crafted this piece to give you a penetrating insight into how blockchain could help retail businesses stay competitive! Defining Blockchain A blockchain is a decentralized digital file that handles the recordings of transactions. It utilizes cryptography to ensure that alterations of the ledger are impossible unless changes are made to all subsequent blocks, and the network agrees. It is also vital to note that several ways to classify blockchains are based on their uses, features, and implementation details. What Are the Benefits of Blockchain for Retail? With rising digitization and the growing shift to online shopping, retailers face new challenges. It seems as though with increased online sales comes heightened expectations of transparency and a demand for quick, reliable delivery. But logistics in the retail industry are often tedious and inefficient because of poor tracking data. Retailers currently face several problems with their current technology and data management system.

However, if the retail industry utilizes blockchain technology, it can help retailers address these challenges, creating a more transparent supply chain. It can also create more personalized customer experiences, improve fraud prevention and enable new business models. Below, I’ve outlined the benefits the retail industry stands to gain from the use of blockchain: 1. Fraud Prevention There are a lot of counterfeit products sold online. With blockchain, retailers can track each product and ensure it is authentic. This will help reduce the number of counterfeit products that some brands try to sell. Besides, with blockchain, it becomes effortless for brands to promptly trace contaminated products back to the source. This help protect the brand's reputation

2. Management of Inventory Blockchain can also help with Inventory Management. There is a lot of wastage regarding inventory management because of the lack of transparency. With blockchain, retailers can see their inventory and where it is. They can manage stock levels by avoiding overloading or running out of inventory which will help reduce wastage and improve efficiency. 3. Secure and Efficient Transactions For starters, using blockchain in the retail industry guarantees that the whole supply chain process is automated, secure, and efficient. Since blockchain helps simplify and streamline the supply management chain, transparency becomes easier for retailers. 4. Easy Tracking of Products The system allows brands to track a product's journey from its source to the consumer in real-time, from the point of manufacture to the end of the sale. Not only will this increase customers' loyalty to the brand, but it also promotes a sense of accountability in retailers. 5. Personalized Customers' Experiences Retailers access accurate, timely information from suppliers, shipping companies, and other stakeholders. This helps them meet consumer demand and avoid shortages. 6. Data Security Blockchain also offers privacy through encryption and is especially useful when privacy regulations exist. With this, customers' data are safe and cannot be tampered with. Are There Any Drawbacks To Using Blockchain in Retail? While It is clear that blockchain has a lot of potential benefits for retailers, there are also some drawbacks to consider: . Firstly, blockchain is still in its early stages, so there's a lot of uncertainty about how brands can effectively use it and how it will evolve. . There is also the issue of complexity. Blockchain is not a simple technology and cannot be easy to understand and implement. To enjoy blockchain the best way, retailers may need to partner with experts to get the most out of blockchain technology. . Finally, there's the question of security. Blockchain is a very secure system, but if retailers don't take the necessary precautions, they could be vulnerable to attacks. So it is essential to ensure that your systems are adequately secured before implementing blockchain technology. How Can Retail Brands Prepare for Blockchain Revolution? Blockchain will only continue to grow in the coming years. Hence, retailers may need to invest in blockchain technology now to prepare for the potential shift and to remain competitive. Here are some ways for brands to get started: . Create a Strategy You can't just jump on the bandwagon as a realistic brand owner. It would be best if you mapped out a strategy to understand how blockchain could fit into your business model and how you can use it to create value. . Invest in the Right People Blockchain implementation is a big undertaking, so you can't afford to make costly mistakes. Brands should ensure you bring in the right people and professionals to explore it further.

. Create a Sandbox Another way to prepare for the blockchain revolution is to create a sandbox environment where your brand can explore the technology and test various use cases. . Develop a Pilot Project Developing a pilot project is the next action once the sandbox exploration is complete. This time, brands should test blockchain technology in the real world by creating a pilot project with a strategic partner. . Educate the Organization Brands must make sure that they train their employees to understand the technology so they can start implementing blockchain effectively. . Stay Ahead of the Curve Brands must stay ahead of the curve by keeping an eye on implementing and regulating blockchain technology. Conclusion Although the stages of development in blockchain are gradual, it is showing much promise for the retail industry. Using blockchain in retail includes improved security, enhanced customer loyalty, and more efficient operations. There is still some uncertainty about how blockchain will be used in retail, but there is no doubt that it has the potential to revolutionize the industry.

About the Author: Azgari Lipshy writes about technology, yoga, and her solo travels worldwide. Meta Description The distributed ledger technology known as blockchain can be used to improve the trustworthiness of many different types of business activities, including those involving customers, merchants, and payment processors. With online shopping becoming more and more popular, it's good for the retail sector to boost shoppers' confidence. “The use of blockchain technology can improve any aspect of a company's operations that involves the transfer of assets.”

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Benefits of Blockchain for Identity and Access Management - By Azgari Lipshy

Society's push toward digitalization also leads to the digitization of personal identities. From health information to professional certificates, the requirement for identification information and credentials is expanding in number, diversity, and significance. Traditionally, third parties monitor and confirm identification information —government or commercial sector. However, declining levels of trust and innovative technologies are causing people to challenge these structures.

Paper-based forms of identity are becoming more unsuited for the digital age due to the growing volume of personal data, the prevalence of digital interactions, and the severity of security concerns. It is uncertain, though, how future technology will transform identity.

Identifying, authenticating, and authorizing users of services or systems is a major task for identity and access management (IAM) technology in business and government environments. Several operations come under this rubric, and "access" might mean anything from a user logging into a system to an employee setting hardware, a citizen utilizing a government service, or any other kind of user verification, certification, or confirmation. Examples of identity traits include job, nationality, service provider affiliation, government benefits eligibility, and demography. In addition to serving as digital representations, these tags can stand as proof of our identities.

Among the many new technologies that might serve as templates for IAM is distributed ledger technology (DLT), also known as the blockchain. DLT is best understood as a catch-all phrase for a family of related technologies that facilitate distributed designs for data protection and processing. Its primary feature allows the network to record and verify activities like purchases, logins, and chats, rather than relying on a third party. Blockchain technology — or blockchain-inspired solutions — might enhance IAM operations in various scenarios if implemented correctly. Among such scenarios are the following:

Elimination of Paper-Based Identity Management

Eliminating paper-based identification management is the primary advantage of blockchain for identity management. Blockchain identity management systems can assist when users misplace their original papers by acquiring duplicate ID proof. Users who forget or lose their original ID proof credentials can retrieve them using Blockchain Identity Management, but they must go through specific procedures.

Organizations can ensure that documents are irreversible and tamper-proof with blockchain identity management. With the guarantee of security and dependability, government authorities can preserve ID evidence of individuals on a blockchain. In addition, the permanence of the ID proof record is ensured by blockchain security.

Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI)

Independently Verifiable credentials

As stated by the W3C, "Verifiable credentials represent statements made by an issuer in a tamper-evident and privacy-respecting manner." As an integral part of the identity verification process, DLT affords the opportunity to "digitally stamp" a permanent claim. Similar to how artists may now digitally watermark their original material using blockchain-based Nonfungible Tokens (NFT), this same capacity can be used to authenticate credentials. However, businesses should not keep Personally Identifiable Information (PII) on the blockchain itself but rather keep the hash of the claim on the blockchain.

Decentralized Identifiers (DID)

DIDs are identifiers under the authority of the identity owner, without the involvement of centralized authorities or resources. These are a part of SSI’s personal data intention to be user-controlled and not re-assignable. This indicates that digital identifiers have public key documentation, authentication mechanisms, and verifiability through cryptography or the signature of an issuing authority.

Provenance

Blockchain can help determine the source and precision of identification attributes. An attribute is only as trustworthy as confidence in its source. A shared ledger might establish transparency in the timestamps of sources providing identification traits, much as it has increased transparency and efficiency in monitoring commodities across the supply chain. In particular, synchronous insight into the lifespan information of cryptographic keys or who has access to what might be beneficial for key lifecycle management. Furthermore, the academic community is also considering using blockchain provenance since it might help with the authentication and verification of credentials for recruiting.

Minimization of Data

To authenticate a user, traditional service providers require a lot of verifiable data. Different DLT features, such as zero-knowledge proofs, smart contracts, and selective disclosure, can be set up to reduce the amount of data or attributes needed for verification.

Compliance verification

As shared ledger network stakeholders with permission-based access, auditors may also be used for compliance verification, which is another use case made possible by shared audit trails. Compliance verification is also necessary for many business identification use cases, such as KYC in financial services. In this situation, the IAM-blockchain convergence might increase efficiency for both banks and individuals without doing away with the requirement for the central authority, which in this case would be a governmental body handling KYC. A bank might lower its expenses while "seeing" and attesting that other banks have performed KYC due diligence and confirmed the clients' identities.

Conclusion

This blockchain above use cases outline the advantages of merging blockchain with IAM, but they ignore a crucial fact: identity is difficult to manage. Even though IAM connects many systems, domains, technologies, and service providers, encoding identity data into DLT is more than a technical task. It's crucial to inquire about the data, including what has to be saved, who should attest to it, how it's maintained, and who makes the decisions. These inquiries incorporate philosophical, financial, cultural, and legal factors. Although the technology is still developing, it can convert centralized but dispersed hubs that now serve as identity control points into a decentralized yet linked web of trust.

About the Author

Azgari Lipshy is a yogi by sunrise, a SAAS account manager by day, and a live music fanatic by night. She writes about her experiences while traveling, cooking, yoga, and technology that she finds fascinating.