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In a further attempt to reduce the time spent on the review, VAR will now send signals to the officials on the sidelines to make visible, quickly recognized decisions, stopping the play immediately. This differs from previous arrangements that allowed play to continue after a foul, only to stop the action later if a notable event such as a goal or penalty occurred.
Holzmüller says his team is confident that improving the accuracy of the VAR system will make the right calls more frequent, even in short decisions, such as “when there is only one finger.”
Although most offside plays can be seen by watching slow motion video games, several fouls (or non-violations) occur during the time between frames of the video. Although the problem is rare, FIFA is on the verge of solving the problem: Holzmüller says that the combination of 3D scans and ball tracking data—which by scanning the area 500 times per second can produce data superior to 60 video frames per second—will enhance video footage to provide a more complete image.
Perhaps the most exciting feature of the digital twin technology is the “3D goal view” inside the VAR. This view can show the player’s position and, using digital technology, can tell if an offside player has tripped the keeper. This interference has long been illegal in football, but the number of players and the size of the field have made it difficult to make accurate calls.
Hu shows many potential applications of digital twin technology in all sports, from sports like this to the health of athletes. As colors become more powerful and computer costs drop, it only gets better.
It’s worth wondering if the juice is worth squeezing to get an inch or two for making some rare phone calls. Holzmüller readily admits that these advances, and all the technical and economic benefits that come with them, will only change a few phones in the entire game. According to FIFA, there is no doubt about its value when it comes to the biggest game in the world.
“We have to bring the best technology to the World Cup,” he says. “That’s our goal.”
This article appeared first wired.com