Skip to main content

South Korean baseball team installs robots to replace absent fans

south korean baseball team installs robots replace absent fans
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Going to miss the ballgame? If you’re a fan of South Korean team Hanwah Eagles then you can still be there in virtual spirit — the Eagles have just added three rows of robot spectators who beam video clips and messages from supporters who can’t be there in person. It looks like the new technology is a hit with fans: nearly 90,000 messages have been sent in during games so far.

“Those who cannot come to the stadium watch the game on the Web or their phones,” explains the official video showing off the innovation. “What if there was a robot cheering for those fans? At important moments the Fanbots encourage group cheering, so the fan and the Fanbots make victory together.”

Recommended Videos

The Fanbots can display messages sent from computers and phones, and are able to work in unison to hold up scrolling LED panels that transmit messages of encouragement. They can also be programmed to do a ‘slow wave’ that mimics the actions of the real human fans in the stadium. Supporters are able to set up customized profiles to personalize their messages.

The Hanwah Eagles will be hoping that getting extra encouragement can inspire them to greater feats. Of course it’s a daft and slightly creepy idea, but there is some sense to it — as Twitter showed during the World Cup, fans love to get involved over social media, and this is one way of tapping into and using that online enthusiasm.

David Nield
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Dave is a freelance journalist from Manchester in the north-west of England. He's been writing about technology since the…
You can start exploring your family tree on Ancestry for free right now
Woman researching Ancestry and family tree

This content was produced in partnership with Ancestry.com.
Ever felt curious about your genealogy and ancestry? Want to know where you came from, how your family tree stacks up, and if you have any relatives out there that you don't know about? Of course, we're boiling it down to just the basics here because there's so much more you can learn about yourself and your history, but the point is, now's the perfect time to take the leap. Ancestry® is offering a 14-day free trial to help you get started on your personal history journey. In case that wasn't clear, you can try the platform for 14 days, totally free. There's no promotional code needed. Just sign up on Ancestry as a new subscriber, and you'll get your 14 days. You'll get direct and accurate insights from your DNA, including ethnicity, personal traits, family history, and so much more. It's like cracking open an egg to peer inside, only you're taking a look at your entire lineage. It's certainly exhilarating, and if you've ever been curious about where you come from and knowing your origin story, well, here's your chance.

 
Why you should try Ancestry and explore your lineage

Read more
The most innovative tech products of 2023
Digital Trends picked the most innovative products of 2023.

Our team of writers and editors reviews hundreds of products every year, and we routinely update our lists of the very best laptops, TVs, phones, and more to make sure you can find the right one for you. But let’s be honest: Sometimes the best is boring. For instance, the iPhone still makes the best phone for most people in 2023. A product that’s easy to use, affordable and reliable may be the most pragmatic purchase, but it’s not always exciting.

That’s why once a year, we like to recognize the most innovative products. Whether they introduce a few new features or totally try to reinvent a category, these are the products breaking new ground in technology. Sometimes they’re impractical, overpriced, or just don’t work as intended the first time. But we love them anyway for the sheer chutzpah it takes to try something new. And sometimes, they truly are the best, too.

Read more
The 6 best portable power stations, tested by experts
EcoFlow DELTA 2 on table at campsite for quick charging.

Having some form of backup power is not only going to make your life easier, but it might literally be life-saving, depending on the situation. Luckily, there are a lot of options for it, whether you need something to charge your phone or get your car jump started while being stuck in the middle of nowhere. To that end, we've collected some of the best deals we could find across the board so that you don't have to wade through all the options and retailers to find the best deal for your needs.
The Best Portable Power Stations

Best overall portable power station:
Best portable power station for the campsite:
Best portable power station for the long haul:
Best power station for the mobile professional:
Best portable power station for your car: [/cc-link
Best for smartphones: [cc-link url="https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Double-Speed-Recharging/dp/B01JIWQPMW" merchant="5b9be81f89f4b3242158adcd" type="textlink" align="default" cta="Anker Power Bank"]

Read more