ARL managing director Ian Taylor wants to consolidate expertise in the sports analysis industry in New Zealand, and believes the Dunedin Stadium would make a "perfect laboratory" for students interested in research and design projects. Otago Polytechnic's applied research and design department had already collaborated with Animation Research Ltd on a $200,000 project for a commercial client recently, which was an "encouraging start", Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker told members at a campus council meeting - the fledgling sports analysis industry provided a "great field of opportunities" for the tertiary institute.

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above: 2007 Dunedin Stadium visualization

There was a broad potential to involve different departments, such as the sports institute, and create Polytech courses around the developing technology, Mr Ker said. "It will enable us to become users [of the technology] and become more involved with developing the types of animation technology used for all sorts of training possibilities - live streaming of events, computer graphic interfaces, even engineering." Discussions are also being held with departments at the University of Otago to gauge interest in courses designed around sports animation and tracking technology. Read the original Otago Daily Times article.

ARL's sports division, Virtual Eye, delivered it's first golf coverage in 1998, and has since covered The Open Championship, The US Open, The Ryder Cup, The World Match Play, The Players Championship plus major events on both The PGA and European tours. This May, Virtual Eye covered European Tour dates at Open de Espana in Barcelona, the Iberdrola Open in Majorca, the Volvo World Match Play Champs in Andalucia, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and the Saab Wales Open at Celtic Manor. Read more about the story of Virtual Eye Golf.

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