Technology Changing The Way Games Are Played (Swimming)

Technology seems to have altered the competitive dimensions in the sport of swimming. Skills will now have to be complimented by hydrodynamic designed swimwear (fabrics with least drag) in order to gain an edge…(yes even in sports, gains can be set at the margins).

Courtesy of menstyle.com

This from the Economist,

``But technology matters even more in the swimming pool. The body suits worn by swimmers today reduce drag through the water—especially after a start and following a turn—by as much as 10% compared with suits worn at the last Olympics.

“The most popular body suit this year—the $550 Speedo LZR Racer—is credited with some 46 world records since it was introduced just six months ago. Comparable bodysuits have since been rushed out by Arena, Adidas and Mizuno in time for the Beijing games.

“Speedo gets its edge from a space-age “pulse” fabric and the way it’s welded together rather than sewn to create a smooth, streamlined shape in the water. Engineers at NASA’s Langley Research Centre in Virginia tested more than 60 different fabrics in a wind-tunnel for Speedo to find out which offered the lowest skin resistance…

“The researchers at Langley found that at the speeds simulated in the wind-tunnel, the smoothest fabrics and weaves had the lowest passive drag (the resistance generated by a swimmer kicking forward with the arms stationary out front after a diving start or turn).”

Speedo LZR Racer in Action Courtesy of the Economist

I guess this means it won’t be just about competitive “Olympic” skills this time. Nonetheless, this should also be seen as an incoming fashion trend.

Simply said, we’d probably see more of this high tech $550* swimwear gear pervade the swimming pools.

*of course, one should expect retail prices to be lower so as to gain a 'critical mass'-often the hallmark of technological innovations