18 minute read
GAME-CHANGING TECH
GAME-CHANGING TECH The future of sports looks to be revolutionised with advancements in AR and VR technologies
By Prof Mmaki Jantjies and Dr Simone Titus
Recent years have seen major technological advancements in the sports industry, that range from the development of sports apparel and protective gear to the science of movement, analytics, sports mobile apps and performance monitors. Technology has brought improvements both on and off the field and the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) now provides viable alternatives to physical support in sports, that benefits education and rehabilitation.
Now that hardware has improved as well as become more accessible to everyone, augmented and virtual reality technology are able to immerse users in a simulated threedimensional experience of the real world. AR enables users to overlay hardware devices such as mobile phones in a real-world setting where complementary 3D objects can be experienced interactively. VR allows visual immersion of users in a simulated 3D context, which is now supported by smartphones, complementary head-mounted gear or special glasses.
Everyone remembers the craze for Pokémon Go, an augmented reality game that allowed users to overlay their mobile phones onto their environment and chase and capture virtual Pokémon around the real world. Just as users could battle each other virtually to unlock even more Pokémon, the same technology is now used to enhance the sporting experience.
VR sporting technology can reach fans from the comfort of their own homes through a realtime interactive experience. Clear sound and visuals enable both the physical and the digital world to merge within these very “real” interactive sporting experiences. In this article, we explore how these technologies have affected on-field and training experiences.
Complementary AR applications now enable users to overlay their mobile phones onto football games to view live data and statistics. And Panasonic’s AR allows sports-lovers to watch their games through their smartphones or custom AR glasses to access features such as live commentary, game statistics and player information throughout a match.
During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) released a complementary VR application service that gave fans access to screen virtual reality matches with live commentary and a complimentary information dashboard that provided live match information. In 2018, the USA National Basketball Association introduced the NextVR application, which allowed fans to experience basketball games virtually. Such complementary-access technologies provide greater access to matches at a much more affordable rate, if not for free. Users can also revisit their favourite games or highlights through the VR experience.
VR tools and applications can enhance sporting performance and training processes, too, by
providing invaluable support to remote training during times of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Enabling an athlete to engage in personalised training within different sports scenarios and under various weather conditions helps them develop tactical and decision-making skills, thereby correcting and enhancing their biomechanical techniques.
VR also allows athletes to enter into a simulation where they feel physically and mentally present. Here, they can practice particular skills infinite times under different conditions unavailable in the real world, which can be beneficial for student-athletes who require a degree of flexibility given their academic and other commitments.
For sports scientists and health rehabilitation professionals, VR can also be of assistance. These technologies can help to diagnose sports-related injuries through the interaction of the athlete with a virtual environment that uses sensors to record motion and sports-related movement. This type of bio-feedback is useful for the development of suitable treatment protocols. Rehabilitation programmes using VR simulations can help athletes maintain appropriate movement during sessions and may be used by professionals to assess athlete readiness and health outcomes. Lastly, VR simulations can be used to develop exercises that enhance mental readiness to control competition anxiety.
There are clear opportunities provided by VR and AR in health professions and sports science education, and VR has already proven highly beneficial to train students in preparation for the world of work. Using VR tech in the education of both sports science and health professions allows academics to develop virtual learning spaces where students can practice techniques on virtual patients as many times as they need to without running the risk of hurting an individual.
VR may also be used as preparatory exercises before students are exposed to real athletes on the sports field or in a rehabilitation centre. In turn, academics can tailor the student experience to meet learning outcomes while also considering the needs of the athlete. This type of approach can enhance student learning and engagement through virtual activity rather than books. Furthermore, emerging virtual tech is valuable for explaining complex content to visual learners.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the use of technology to conduct multiple sporting activities in adherence to recommendations made by the World Health Organization (WHO). Looking beyond the pandemic, immersive tech will continue to impact sports significantly, whether on the field or in the comfort of an athlete’s own home.
“As we enter our 60th year, it is my privilege to lead the University of the Western Cape (UWC) alongside our strong executive team. A leading higher education institution in South Africa and Africa, UWC continues to move forward - defined by the ethos that one’s origins do not define one’s destiny.
We see this in the resilience of our students, many of whom will be the first in their families to gain a university education. It is also evident in the institution’s rise from a historically disadvantaged institution to a national university of high repute. We are proud that our doors of learning have long been open to all - irrespective of race or status. Moreover, we are pleased with the strides we have made by providing education that places excellence in learning, teaching, research and innovation at its centre.
As we look forward, we’re more committed than ever to being a vibrant intellectual space, engaging with matters of significance and constantly seeking new ways of improving what we offer our students. We endeavour to do this while continuing to be mindful of the society we are in and the communities around us.
Therefore, to honour our history whilst embracing our future, we have chosen to celebrate our 60th year by focusing on three key themes: Graduate Employability, Social Justice and Community Engagement. Together, we will continue to inspire hope that leads to action through knowledge.
Professor Tyrone Pretorius UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor
“While UWC remains an institution of choice for employers searching for real graduate talent, we recognise that the global challenges of graduate underemployment will not be addressed through classroom learning alone. That is why Student Development and Support at UWC is continuously promoting participation in the co-curricular space. It’s why in 2016, we launched the Co-Curricular Record, which involves active learning inside and outside of the classroom. This ensures that our students develop key skills and competencies to improve both their employability and marketability. In line with our aim to Interact, Network and Inspire, our Careers Service also provides interactive career networking opportunities for students, faculty and prospective employers - preparing our students for their entry into the world of work. Since 2013, this service has featured consistently in the Top 7 of South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) “Best Careers Service” and “Best Career Fair” categories. In 2015 and 2019, we won the SAGEA “Best Work Readiness Initiative Award” for our Mock Interview Project and for our career service management tool “Career Xplora”, respectively. This tool in particular has enabled us to increase the breadth and depth of our career service offerings. From an Internship and Job Board, to an Employer Directory, Career Events Calendar, a CV Builder tool, and an online Mock Interview, over 11,000 students and alumni have accessed and benefitted from this portal since its launch in 2017. As our students plot their future careers, we will continue in our endeavour to provide a meaningful and stimulating job search experience for them all - from their first year to their final year and beyond.”
Professor Pamela Dube Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Development and Support
UWC has constantly sought to embed social justice through various means. Firstly, our UWC Charter of Graduate Attributes for the Twenty First Century includes the graduate attributes of “critical citizenship and the social good.” Secondly, we are an engaged university – not only through our disciplines, but through an explicit commitment to community engagement that is not a “soup kitchen” approach to community engagement, but an integrated scholarship of engagement. The South African Constitution is premised on social justice – on healing the divisions of the part, creating a society where wealth, opportunities and privilege are available to all. That notion of social justice was embraced at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) since its inception. The university was created by the apartheid government to serve only “coloured” students in very limited fields of study in 1960, the 1970s saw a rise of black consciousness. The 1980s were characterised by anti-apartheid activism, while in the 1990s, UWC became known as the “intellectual home of the left” through its efforts to critically engage on what a democratic South Africa should look like. And in the twenty-first century, UWC has risen to becoming South Africa’s most successful historically disadvantaged research-led teaching university, shedding the shackles of the past. This year, social justice will be a key focus area in our celebrations and scholarly endeavours. We remain responsive to the imperatives of social and economic development in our own country and its many diverse communities.
Professor Vivienne Lawack Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic
As a research-intensive university, UWC is held aloft by our motto, “From Hope to Action through Knowledge.” Every endeavour undertaken by our institution is to ensure that we give life to this motto and that we engage with the communities we serve. As the harsh realities of life embed itself in society, it has become crucial for university staff and students to find solutions through teaching, research and community engagement. Through these activities we also aim to contribute to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations General Assembly – including achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls as well as making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. UWC also prioritises South Africa’s National Development Plan which plans to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. Over the years, there has been significant growth in community interaction and support. These range from sustainable agriculture in the science sector to preventing tooth decay for children with special needs in the health sector. Soon we will offer a community development course and we are examining the application of nanoparticles towards the treatment of Tuberculosis, especially to achieve immunotherapy. Recently we have also partnered with Samsung to establish the Future-Innovation Lab where unemployed, deserving and previously disadvantaged youth can gain skills in software development and digital social innovation, free of charge. With an uncompromising focus to engage and positively impact our community, we continue to bring our academics into public spaces – providing ever-increasing opportunities to facilitate knowledge translation and real world problem-solving.
Professor Josè Frantz
The University College of the Western Cape opens its doors.
The institution gains independent university status and is allowed to award its own degrees and diplomas.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Innovation
Array (SKA).
AcademicMilestones
U N I V E R S I T Y O F T H E W E S T E R N C A P E
12 000
STUDENTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA and other African countries have participated in the UWC School of Public Health’s Summer and Winter School programmes since they began in 1992.
31
UWC’S RANKING in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for quality education.
10
UWC ACADEMICS
received awards for excellence in teaching and learning from the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa.
200
UWC HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN
INCLUDED among the top 200 universities in emerging economies in the Times Higher Education 2019 rankings
124
PhDs WERE CONFERRED by UWC in 2018 in several disciplines – from astrophysics to politics and zoology.
157
THE RANKING AWARDED in 2019 by the URAP World University Rankings to the Astronomy & Astrophysics disciplines taught at UWC, while Physical Science,
10
UWC ALUMNI have served as Rectors or ViceChancellors of South African universities.
55%
THE PERCENTAGE OF PERMANENT academic staff at UWC who hold PhDs.
3
THREE UNIVERSITIES
UWC, the University of Cape Town and the University of Pretoria – have formed the InterUniversity Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA), a flagship project that responds to the big data challenge of the Square Kilometre
7
UWC STUDENTS
have been selected in as many years, to participate in the annual Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings with Nobel laureates, students and researchers from more than 200 institutions.
1
UWC’S FACULTY OF
DENTISTRY is the leading dental school in Africa and produces 48% of South Africa’s dentists.
UWC Facts and Figures
OUR STATS AT A GLANCE
TOTAL STUDENTS 2019
24 223
INNOVATIVE LEARNING AND TEACHING FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Excellence in teaching, in support of effective learning, is at the forefront of the University’s commitment to the success of its students. Four key priorities underpin UWC’s vision to deliver on its learning and teaching mandate: • • • •
Excellence and student success
Research-led learning and teaching
Learning with emerging technologies
Transformation and renewal of the curriculum
BREAKDOWN
Undergraduates
19 303
Postgraduates
4 920
First-timeEntering Undergraduates
5 099
UWC’S HYDROGEN SYSTEMS SOUTH
AFRICA (HYSA) has introduced five prototype hydrogen fuel cell technology (HFCT) innovations: an HFCT-powered forklift and refuelling station, a tricycle, a backup power system and a generator.
FACULTIES
ARTS
COMMUNITY AND HEALTH SCIENCES
DENTISTRY
ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES EDUCATION
LAW
NATURAL SCIENCES
HistoricMilestones
1970
was ranked 470.
1975
Professor Richard van der Ross appointed as UWC’s first black Rector.
1978
UWC’s Cape Flats Nature Reserve declared a National Monument (now known as a provincial heritage site).
1987
Rector and ViceChancellor, Professor Jakes Gerwel, declares UWC “the intellectual home of the left.”
UWC opens its doors to African students and inaugurates its longestserving Chancellor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu (who would serve for more than 25 years).
1990
UWC becomes the first university to award President Nelson Mandela an honorary doctorate upon his release from prison.
1994
Many academics from UWC join President Mandela’s new government and are appointed to ministerial and advisory positions, including its Rector, Prof Gerwel, who becomes the Director-General in the Presidency. UWC’s leadership takes part in writing the higher education policy for the incoming government. The South African interim Constitution and final Constitution are drafted at UWC.
2008
The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship is introduced, promoting an international postgraduate education experience. The first cohort of Fellows is accepted in 2009.
2009
South African writer, Meg Vandermerwe, initiates UWC Creates, the only creative writing programme in South Africa operating across three languages (English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa).
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE RANKS AMONG THE WORLD’S TOP 200 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS*.
Committed to fulfilling the United Nations’ Social Development Goals, (outlined above), as well as prioritising the country’s National Development Plan (NDP), here are some of the ways our multidisciplinary approach is seeing many of these goals realised:
*According to the Times Higher Education University Impact Ratings 2019.
COMBATING INEQUALITY
INSTITUTE FOR POVERTY, LAND AND AGRARIAN STUDIES.
From research to policy engagement to teaching and training, this institute is focussed on the dynamics of chronic poverty and structural inequality in Southern Africa, with a particular emphasis on the key role of restructuring and contesting land-holding and agro-food systems.
THE HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING HIV/AIDS PROGRAMME,
which UWC is a member of, develops and supports HIV mitigation programmes in South Africa’s tertiary education facilities.
WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES. An interdisciplinary department emerged from gender and anti-apartheid activism at UWC. It foregrounds questions of social justice and processes of societal and institutional transformation.
THE DULLAH OMAR INSTITUTE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL LAW,
GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS is focussed on children’s rights, socio-economic rights, multi-level government, criminal justice reform and women’s rights.
MIGRATION AND MOBILITIES. With a research niche in migration and mobilities to promote critical approaches in research and collaboration, an interdisciplinary programme across UWC’s faculties connects research, teaching and learning as well as community engagement in this field. and working to achieve greater transparency and collaboration on publicly funded projects. DRIVING RESEARCH & INNOVATION
DATA SCIENCE MASTER’S PROGRAMME. Combining statistics, mathematics, programming and creative problem-solving to develop new approaches to data handling. SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BIOINFORMATICS INSTITUTE. Cutting-edge bioinformatics and computational biology research.
NANOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTRE (NIC). A unit focussed on the science and research behind using small particles and certain metals to target various diseases.
SOUTH AFRICAN RESEARCH CHAIRS INITIATIVE. UWC currently holds no less than 18 chairs.
SQUARE KILOMETRES ARRAY (SKA) PROJECT. To coordinate and accurately analyse the big data received from this global project, UWC has joined forces with other universities to form the Institue for Data Intensive Astronomy.
HYDROGEN SOUTH AFRICA SYSTEMS COMPETENCE CENTRE. Together with another partner in this initiative, UWC encourage and facitlitate more hightechnology industries in the mining sector.
E-SKILLS WITH IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES STREAM. A Postgraduate Diploma that combines Augmented and Virtual Reality.
ENHANCING SUSTAINABILITY
THE WATER RESILIENCE INITIATIVE seeks to address drought in the city. To this end, UWC has constructed a borehole water purification plant and acquired an atmospheric water generator to harvest water from the atmosphere.
THE ENERGY STORAGE INNOVATION LAB is a culmination of years of research and innovation by UWC’s South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, especially in the fields of Lithium-Ion and Sodium-Halide batteries, battery modules and integrated energy storage systems. STATISTICS AND POPULATION STUDIES’ multipronged focus includes growing important areas of research such as data for planning purposes, and understanding the challenges of our modern societies.
UWC HAS THRICE BEEN DECLARED AFRICA’S GREENEST CAMPUS
a shining example of how sustainable thinking and environmentalism can be promoted at universities. Achievement Award. ENABLING LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
THE CENTRE FOR INNOVATIVE EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGIES (CIECT) defines eLearning’s position on education within UWC and how it supports and develops learning and teaching activities. ZONE LEARNING is offered at UWC as a partner of Ryerson University, Toronto. It enables students to apply their formal learning to develop business ideas, start-ups, companies or projects.
THE DIRECTORATE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING develops an encompassing strategic plan for teaching and learning, and guides and evaluates its implementation.
THE FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE PROGRAMME provides a support structure to empower and equip first-year students with the essential skills they need to successfully navigate university life.
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW is an area of current research within the Faculty of Law. It aims to facilitate scholarships that respond to the increasingly global ecological crises from a perspective of ecological justice.
THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES &
TOURISM critically explores the interrelations between people, places and the environment in Africa, as well as within the global context.
PROMOTING STUDENT DEVELOPMENT & WELLNESS
THE STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT office is tasked with building and maintaining vibrant student development programmes.
THE FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMME is a partnership with Tiger Brands whereby UWC has set up a pantry on campus as part of a holistic strategy for ensuring student wellness and well-being.
THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL (SRC) is the highest decisionmaking structure of student governance. It represents and advocates for the rights of all UWC students and their overall interests and social well-being.
THE INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTRE FOR SPORTS SCIENCE AND
DEVELOPMENT promotes sport as a powerful tool for development, peace, health, well-being and social change.
THE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN FOOD SECURITY is co-hosted with the University of Pretoria. It was established to improve access to sustainable and sufficient amounts of nutritious food for poor, vulnerable and marginal
10 SARChI (South African Research Chairs Initiative) chairs awarded to UWC, the highest number awarded to any university in SA that year (as of 2019, UWC hosts 18 SARChI Chairs).
2012
UWC is declared Africa’s Greenest Campus in the inaugural African Green Campus Initiative Challenge.
2013
UWC signs the Berlin Declaration on Open Access in the Sciences and Humanities, joining hundreds of institutions around the world dedicated to supporting the principles of open access
2014
For the first time, UWC awards over 100 PhDs and over 4,000 degrees in one year. Under the leadership of Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian O’Connell, UWC is recognised as a top-tier university by the Department of Higher Education and Training.
2016
UWC’s Centre for Humanities Research is awarded the Flagship on Critical Thought in African Humanities by the NRF (National Research Foundation). UWC is ranked number 1 in Physical Science - not just in South Africa, but for Africa as a whole - in the 2016 Nature Index.
2017
A group of UWC students, led by Professor Nico Orce, conduct the second major African-led experiment at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland.
UWC’s former ViceChancellor, Professor O’Connell, receives the National Research Foundation’s highest honour, the NRF Lifetime populations.
2018
UWC’s Faculty of Dentistry - Africa’s leading and largest dental school - launches a new state-ofthe-art video conferencing system that will allow students to watch live surgeries in class or at home - a first for South Africa.
2019
UWC Rugby made its debut in the Varsity Cup. The team made history by becoming the first historically disadvantaged institution to qualify for the premier university rugby competition.
2020
UWC celebrates its 60th anniversary.
