In a move that may seem a bit strange to many, HBO – yes, the television network that makes the world's favorite fantasy soap opera called Game of Thrones – has apparently invented a sensor system for boxing gloves to show the velocities of a punch in real time.
The technology behind the patent shows how fast and hard a punch is thrown, while the sensor would be installed in a boxing glove and a boxer's body could tell in real time the force with which a punch is thrown at an opponent. Called PunchForce, this technology is best used when the boxer is falsely leading to a knock out.
This isn't the first time similar sensor technology has been used in sports other than boxing
In baseball and tennis there are usually some sensors to measure the speed at which a ball could be hit and then display it in real time.
The patent describes the technology as having a gyroscope and accelerometer built into the front of the boxing glove. When the boxing glove is used, a database of multiple motion profiles of previous punches is activated, allowing a much better comparison of the current punch and past punches to be displayed, allowing you to track your progress more accurately. According to Venture Beat, the sensors are sensitive enough to pick up all sorts of stats like the timing and speed of a punch
Why did HBO, of all companies, invent this technology? Well, it's pretty obvious: to use it while broadcasting live NFL boxing.
