Technology is changing the world around us. There is hardly any field that has not been touched by technology and has been completely transformed: the way we live and work has been completely changed by technology. But the way we play has also been completely transformed by technology. This is how some of the most popular games have changed through the use of technology.
1. Chess: Chess is at least 1400 years old and first originated in India in the 6th century. Not much has changed about the game for millennia. But the advent of the internet changed everything. Chess players can now play with each other while sitting on different continents. They can also calculate your grades in real time. And most importantly, they can play with computers. Computers have gotten extremely good at chess: Ever since Deep Blue beat Gary Kasparov, computers have gone from strength to strength and can now beat even the best human players.
2. cricket: Cricket is a sport that has pioneered the adoption of technology. Way back in 1992, cricket had used slow-motion replays to award runs, with Jonty Rhodes taking out Sachin Tendulkar in the first instance where the third umpire was used. More recently, cricket has become even more futuristic: games regularly use Hawk Eye, which predicts the trajectory of the ball, to determine LBWs. Hawkeye has fundamentally changed cricket, leading to better decisions and fewer mistakes by umpires.
3. Soccer: Soccer is a pretty simple sport, all it requires is 22 players, a soccer ball and a field to play on, but even it hasn’t been touched by technology. Soccer tournaments often use VAR to assess goals and offsides. The technology has slowed down the game a bit (decisions can take a few seconds to appear), but it has helped reduce recovery errors and subsequent controversies.
4. Casino games: Casinos have been around for decades, but they have also been transformed by technology. Most casino games can now be played on a mobile phone or computer, including online slots and blackjack. Technology has enabled companies to bring the excitement of these games right into people’s homes, and online payment systems ensure that money is also settled instantly and seamlessly.
5. Video games: The latter may seem strange, but video games are also on the list. Video games themselves are based on technology, but what is remarkable is how much even video games have changed thanks to technology. The first video games had grainy graphics and were played on small handheld devices, but now video games have incredibly realistic graphics and immersive storylines. And video games have crossed another chasm: With the development of virtual reality, video games can now be played in the virtual world. The video games of today are indistinguishable from the video games of a few decades ago.
