Move over Hawkeye, there is a new kid on the block, with Artificial Eye (or A-Eye) the latest technological advance in the cricketing world.
A-Eye's area of expertise is run-outs, with the automated camera and software combination used to deliver a verdict on a run-out chance in a matter of seconds.
The brainchild of three Pakistani scientists - Tariq Mahmood, Syed Mazher Kamal and Syed Obaid Ahmed - from the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences in Karachi, A-Eye came about in an attempt to cut down on the amount of takes to come to a decision regarding a run-out chance.
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"The point is T20 matches are very fast paced and if there is a run-out situation you are forced to stop the game for a half a minute or a minute and that can disrupt the flow of the game," Mahmood told Cricket365 in an exclusive interview.
"I've seen examples in games where the flow of the game has changed after a run-out and that is not justified, because if one team is playing better than the other, they should continue but the break can make a difference. "So we came up with this software called Artificial Eye in which we tried to automate the decision of a run-out."
With limited resources at their disposal, the scientists developed an intricate software package and a basic recording technique, which together form A-Eye. "We took a simple camera that we installed at ground level very close to the crease and then we filmed several run-outs," explained Mahmood.
"We fed these run-outs to our software and we then used basic imaging techniques before applying a motion detector algorithm in order to detect the simultaneous motion of the bat as well as the stumps.
"We were able to show that A-Eye is only 3% less accurate than a third umpire but a lot more efficient because it is able to give you a decision within seconds."
Mahmood is the first to admit that the current system has its limitations; at present there is no way of determining whether the stumps are broken by either by the ball or by another source such as the fielder without the ball, but Mahmood is confident that such problems can be ironed out.
"Yes, sure it will not be a problem because we have done the basic task but there are always limitations before we can develop it into a proper product," he says. "We need some extra image processing but that will not be a big task for us. We need to make some minor adjustments to make it complete."
The first step in achieving this will be a trial period in which A-Eye will be used in domestic games in Karachi, but first and foremost what is required is investment in the system.
This, however, could also prove its stumbling block, with the trio forced to look outside of Pakistan with sponsors hard to come by within its confines.
Whether the technology will be seen as a worthwhile investment remains to be seen. There are two primary points to be considered when considering the viability of A-eye.
First of all is the accuracy of the technology - while A-Eye's positive results may improve as the system develops, is the extra thirty seconds or minute it takes for the third umpire to make a decision not worth even the smallest of differences? After all, a wicket is such an important component to the game and therefore shouldn't accuracy rather than efficiency be the most important point?
Secondly, while A-Eye may automate the role of the third umpire with respect to run-outs, the third umpire has numerous other tasks to perform, and wouldn't be made redundant by the introduction A-Eye. This begs the question: if he is there, should he be made full use of?
Regardless of the pros and cons and current limitations, A-Eye is an interesting and innovative addition to cricket. With sport as a whole embracing technology more and more, it may just make it to a game near you. - Cricket365 |
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