Usage of drones in sports communication – new esthetics and enlargement of space

Andreas Hebbel-Seeger | Usage of drones in sports communication | Athens 2016 1
Usage of drones in
sports communication
Andreas Hebbel-Seeger
16th Annual International Conference on Sports: Economic, Management,
Marketing & Social Aspects, 9-12 May 2016, Athens, Greece
new esthetics and enlargement of space

We‘re living within a
„Generation drone“.
(Goldberg et al., 2013, 3)

“The innovation of drones for
journalistic purposes will most
likely replace or … supplement
visual news coverage on the
ground with new kinds of
aerial views.”
(Goldberg et al, 2013, 24)

Photo and video drones are
unmanned flight systems
that carry a camera
correspondent to the purpose
and they are able to record
and transmit footage.

They are operated from
the ground by a
remote control.

In addition, their handling is
supported by electronic
auxiliary systems such as
flight stability systems.

Concerning their general construction (especially
with regards to the number of rotors) one can
differentiate between different systems.

Video drones are considered the
innovative alternatives to “real”
helicopters, crane systems, spider
cams and camera dollies.
They are more flexible in usage
and comparably inexpensive.

Video drones create less downwash, are
less noisy and are also more maneuverable
so that they can be operated closer to the
point of action…

‘Large’ helicopters
need to keep a relatively long
distance to the filmed object
which calls for large focal lengths
or zoom factors that result in
narrow angles of view.

l  Bla bla
Video drones can approach
objects closely and
therefore mostly avoid
zooming.

Video drones can “interact” with stationary or flying
constructions, for example by flying underneath bridges
or through buildings.

Even visualization in
complicate environments
becomes possible, if
video drones accompany e.g.
a snowboarder over hazards
and through obstacles…

... or follow cyclists through
the urban canyons.

Video drones succeed in an
optimum manner the staging
of sports in space.

Drones themselves are the
subject of staging an event.
Screenshot:www.thedronercingleague.com

As part of rapid technological
development, the performance of
unmanned aerial vehicles improves
within shorter and shorter cycles.
Subsequently, acquisition costs
are decreasing.

By using their
own flying devices,
coaches can monitor
practice of their team.

...athletes are able to
improve their own motion
perception through the
visualizations of their
movements…
(Higuchi et al., 2011)

…or event organizers themselves can
provide aerial footage to their audience.

In sports communication, a view from above
generally provides an overview. By observing
the athletic happenings from a distance from
above, the spatial, tactical and situational
dimensions of sports open up to the spectators.

Even the perspective itself
implicates the audience in the feeling of being
better informed and having more information.

Video drones affect the equality of opportunities
when a guiding or pace making can not be excluded.

Video drones increase the
risk of external interference
such as espionage,
propaganda and
ambush marketing.

Video drones
implies a potential
physical threat for
spectators and
athlets.

“Since the application of drones in journalism
is only just emerging, it is unknown how
the public will react to their usage.”
(Goldberg et al., 2013, 24)

We asked the audience in an online survey* -
announced via Facebook pages of „German Sailing
League“ and „Hamburg Year of Water Sports 2014“
*(Enquiry period November 2014)

“If you have already experienced
the usage of video drones at a
(sports) event: Do the unmanned
aerial vehicles in action frighten
you?”
(data in absolute numbers, n=326)

“If you have not experienced the
usage of video drones at a
(sporting) event yet: Do you think
that the unmanned aerial
vehicles in action would frighten
you?”

“Which associations with/
impressions/expectations of
video drones in sports do you
generally have?”

“To what extend do you think
that the application of video
drones has a positive effect on
the overall quality of sports
coverage?”

“To what extend do you think
that the application of video
drones has a positive effect on
the quality of sports coverage
with regards to sailing?”

A live audience can perceive a video drone
within the produced and displayed content:
visually as a flying device in the sky as well as
aurally through the noise generation of the device

Within an event context, the employed
media are supposed to contribute to the
overall experience.
Whereas in distance-overcoming
communication, the media themselves
become the focal point of the experience.

We also looked for differences among visitors and
persons, which encounter the same content as part
of mediated communication.
We interviewed 58 spectators at the finals of the
German Sailing League on October 31st and
November 1st, 2014.

In total we didn‘t find any fundamental difference
between the visitors and the online interviewees:
Expectations are practically positive.
Potential danger is estimated to be low and tends
to decrease with the experience.

Video drones open new perspectives for sports
communication and for athletic training thanks to
their view from above in combination with the
flexible space paths:
Capabilities are wide ranged.
Potentials, opportunities and risks are not yet
sufficiently explored.

Even we haven‘t finaly explored the actual prospects new
oportunities within the usage of drones come up within VR-
technology...

I‘m looking forward
to your short feedback:
http://speakerscore.com/
ahs-drones2016

Prof. Dr. Andreas Hebbel-Seeger
Local Head of Media School
Macromedia University of Applied Sciences, Campus Hamburg
Gertrudenstr. 3 | 20095 Hamburg | Germany
eMail: a.hebbel-seeger@macromedia.de
Presentation: www.slideshare.net/ahsHH
Feedback: http://speakerscore.com/ahs-drones2016

Usage of drones in sports communication – new esthetics and enlargement of space

Empfohlen

Empfohlen

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Andere mochten auch

Andere mochten auch (14)

Mehr von Andreas Hebbel-Seeger

Mehr von Andreas Hebbel-Seeger (20)

Kürzlich hochgeladen

Kürzlich hochgeladen (20)

Usage of drones in sports communication – new esthetics and enlargement of space