It seems like an eternity ago when we were just typing on our smartphone and tweeting on our tablets. Now, gaming has moved into a whole new dimension, and it’s become so much more than a pastime. It’s a form of entertainment that many of us have become so attached to that we’d be lost without it. It’s not just video games either that we’ve become dependent on; it’s also AR/VR technologies that let us step inside the game and feel like we’re right there with the action. With the rise of eSports and online competitions, gaming has definitely become a competitive sport. Although it might not feel like it at first, hockey is just as much a part of the action as your fingertips are pressed against the keyboard, or your right eye is focused on a screen.
In fact, being on the ice isn’t just about playing the game. It’s a mindset and a way of life that many of us have adopted, and it makes us better people. Being out there on that frozen surface isn’t just about having fun either; it’s a chance to improve our skills and be better at something that we love. With the right gear, that is.
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The Rise Of eSports
There is a misconception that all sports equipment is designed for one purpose alone, and that is definitely not the case. With the advancement of technology, there have been countless designs created for multiple uses, and that definitely includes hockey skates. Back in the day, the only purpose of a hockey skate was to enhance your ability to skate and maneuver quickly on the ice. Since then, manufacturers have tinkered with the design and created customized pairs of hockey skates for users who play various sports and games. Some of the more recent designs are so futuristic that they might be difficult to recognize if you haven’t seen them before.
While we’re definitely a long way from replacing the traditional pair of hockey skates, these designs offer a glimpse of what might be possible in the near future. There are several companies that are dedicated to creating technologically advanced sports equipment, and a lot of that has to do with the increasing popularity of eSports.
What Is An eSports Device?
If you’ve been following the news in recent years, you’ll know that eSports, or competitive electronic sports, have skyrocketed in popularity. It often starts with small tournaments gaining a lot of attention on social media platforms like Twitter, where fans share the excitement about their favorite players and teams. The next step is usually to have those tournaments turned into annual events, such as the Intel Winter Championships, which are played in over 20 countries around the world.
The growth of eSports has been so impressive that it has attracted the attention of big technology companies like Intel and Nvidia, who have developed specialized products designed to enhance the gaming experience. These products range from specialized PC cards to fit into the consoles, to fully featured headsets and laptops. One of the more popular devices currently is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, which is designed to enhance the gameplay experience in any PC or console game. It’s even powered by a regular PC processor, so it can be seamlessly integrated into your computer or gaming console.
How Does This Tech Improve My Hockey Game?
If you’re playing hockey on an ice rink as part of a sport, you know that the surface can be tricky to manage. It can be hard to keep your balance while gliding on ice, especially if the surface is slick or icy, which is often the case in winter. Fortunately, with the help of technology, we can minimize the effects of the surface on the gameplay. As previously mentioned, there are several pieces of technology that can be integrated into your hockey equipment to improve your experience. One of the more popular devices is the Spiker S2, which is a wireless ice puck sensor. It interacts with your smartphone and relays information about the condition of the ice to your smartphone, allowing you to make the right decision about whether or not to engage in a puck battle. It also helps you keep track of your puck usage, so you can be certain that you’re not over or underusing it.
Another device that can be integrated into your hockey equipment is the Life Fitness Utopia 310XT. This machine was specifically designed to enhance the health benefits of riding a bike. It has several gears that allow you to adjust the resistance depending on how hard you’re biking so that you can enjoy the experience without risking your health. The gear ratios are also set to match the cadence of a relaxed, natural walk, so that you can experience the full benefits of a bike ride without having to constantly monitor your pace.
More Than Meets The Eye
Being an avid gamer is only part of what makes a person truly valuable. Thanks to technology, we now have access to specialized sports equipment that can make our gameplay more intense and immersive. As previously mentioned, there are several companies that have created product lines specifically to enhance the enjoyment of games. For example, the Spiker S2 wireless ice pucksensor mentioned above can be integrated into your hockey equipment to help improve your experience. It is designed to keep track of your puck usage and relay this information to you, so you can see how much energy you’ve expended in each period of play. Thanks to these products, playing hockey can now be more than just a pastime; it can be an experience that is both physically and mentally challenging, and can even be used to condition your body and improve your health.