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UNF Sport Data Analytics Lab and SportsMEDIA Technology host new tech showcase

SportsMEDIA Technology that collects data from tennis players while on the courtThe UNF College of Education and Human Services’ Sport Data Analytics (SDA) Lab and SportsMEDIA Technology (SMT) hosted an event yesterday showcasing their partnership and SMT’s latest sports technologies to UNF students. Students studying sport management had the opportunity to receive valuable feedback on their resumes from SMT hiring managers and see firsthand the types of job opportunities that are available to them with a focus in sport and data analytics.

This unique community partnership creates a space for SMT to collect valuable tennis data, serving as a sports technology test bed for SMT’s new technologies, data tools and software, while UNF students have the opportunity to study and analyze both on-court athletics performance analytics and off-court sport business analytics data in real time.

UNF sport management students are working together, under the direction of Dr. Wanyong Choi, SDA Lab director and assistant professor of sport management, to gain firsthand data collection and data analysis experience while working with these state-of-the-art SMT technologies.

This type of collaboration provides students with a competitive edge in the job market, prioritizing career readiness and experiential learning in the lab and on the court. SMT is one of many companies seeking qualified candidates with a specialized skill set to meet the growing demand for data analytics jobs.

In fall 2020, SMT began construction on the UNF tennis courts outside the Fountains Residence Halls, refurbishing and installing new technology on the tennis courts, installing a mobile computer room to conduct on-site data analysis, and bringing the courts up to United States Tennis Association standards.

SMT is the leading innovator and supplier of real-time data delivery and graphics solutions for the sports and entertainment industries and provides clients with cutting-edge storytelling tools to enhance their live sports and entertainment productions.

SMT was founded in 1991 by CEO Gerard J. Hall, who developed the first electronic scoring and data delivery system for the PGA Tour, replacing the hand-held walkie talkie method in place at the time. With numerous industry awards, including 36 Emmys, a sample of SMT’s innovations include the electronic scoreboard and serve speed system for tennis; the virtual yellow first down line for the NFL; and virtual strike zone graphics for MLB. More recently, SMT has developed sports technology involving biometrics, telemetry, augmented reality and player and object tracking.

Learn more about the UNF SDA Lab.

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