Paul Rouse: Fashion, fad, or hindrance — is wearable technology the future of sport?

All across the elite sporting world there is a dramatic increase in the use of wearable technologies that track basic metrics of performance. The logic of usage is that wearable technology should allow an increasingly information-based approach to such matters as pre-, intra- and post-event analysis of individual competitors, and of teams.

FORM GOGGLES: As you swim, the technology in the goggles throws up a commentary on your performance, presenting you with information on your progress and instructions for what you should do next.

Modern sporting performance depends on technology. Mostly, we try and hide this basic fact and focus on the human aspect of performance. This is understandable but there is no denying how technological change has allowed for sporting advance.

One of the things that defines modern sport is the idea of the keeping of records. This is something that extends from the world records set or chased by elite athletes down across the various levels of sporting competition and also ultimately to the desire of individuals to best their own earlier performances.