We’re Building the Future of Data Infrastructure

February 03, 2017

Super Bowl LI Scores a Touchdown on Tech

By Sander Arts
With Super Bowl Sunday just around the corner, we’re reminded of last year’s game that took place just a few blocks away from Marvell’s campus in the heart of Silicon Valley. Taking inspiration from the locale, Super Bowl 50 was undoubtedly the most tech-savvy event to date. The Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, one of the most technologically advanced venues in the country and the first stadium to feature 40 gigabits per second of internet capacity. TechRepublic reported that there were 10.15 terabytes of data transferred across the network during the game, with cloud storage, social networking and web surfing accounting for the top three applications transferring data on Levi’s Wi-Fi network.  What was even more impressive was Levi Stadium’s mobile app which enabled attendees to order food and beverages in advance, find the shortest bathroom and concession lines and access game highlights in high-definition. But where does the game go from here? With sports fans being more engaged and connected than ever, how can technology continue enhancing the fan experience for Super Bowl 51? NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Source: Wikipedia This year, the mobile app worth cheering for is Fox Sports Go. For fans unable to watch the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons face off live in Houston on Sunday, they can still get up close to the game in virtual reality. Fox Sports will stream the game live on its app which can be viewed in VR using a Samsung Gear headset or Google Cardboard. The app’s “virtual suite” will offer viewers various viewpoints of the game – even those without a VR headset can experience the game in 360-degree video. However, we can’t forget that for many viewers, the Super Bowl commercials are just as entertaining as the game itself. With the price of a 30-second ad reaching nearly $5 million this year, brands are, more than ever, using this opportunity to release some of the funniest, strangest and powerful ads to meet viewers’ high expectations. This Sunday, we’re especially looking forward to the technology commercials, such as the Kia Niro and Ford “Go Further” ads, which will highlight advancements in connected car technology. As consumers become increasingly interested in automotive technology, we can expect to see more Super Bowl commercials highlighting data and connectivity both this year and in the years to come. Last year’s record-breaking data usage is just an example of how important Wi-Fi and connectivity have become in our fast-paced world, especially at events such as the Super Bowl where instant streaming and sharing play an essential role in the viewers’ experience. At last year’s game, 15.9 terabytes of data were transferred via Distributed Antenna System, which was 2.5 times the amount compared to the Super Bowl the year before. Will the record to be broken again this Sunday? As we tune in to the biggest TV event of the year, we look forward to seeing how technology will up the ante at Super Bowl 51, from the amount of data being transferred to fans sharing their experience on social media, it’s sure to be a touchdown performance! You can follow Sander Arts on Twitter @Sander1Arts

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Accelerated Infrastructure is the Foundation of AI