NFL swaps first-down chains for Sony’s 8K cameras

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Starting with this year’s football season, the NFL will use Sony’s Hawk-Eye cameras to measure the line to gain — a process the chain crew has done manually for decades. The 8K cameras will use virtual measurement technology to quickly and accurately determine whether the ball traveled 10 yards for a first down. The Hawk-Eye system is made up of six 8K cameras that use optical tracking to determine the ball’s position. When officials receive a measurement, the system will create a digital recreation of the measurement that the NFL will show inside the stadium and on TV. The NFL says Sony’s technology will offer a more “efficient” alternative to using sticks and a 10-yard chain to track the ball’s position. Measuring the ball with Sony’s Hawk-Eye system takes around 30 seconds, which the NFL says is 40 seconds less than the chain crew tak ... Read full article.