Sport Management - How it started

According to Wikipedia “Sport management is a field of education and vocation concerning the business aspect of sport. Some examples of sport managers include the front office system in professional sports, college sport managers, recreational sport managers, sports marketing, event management, facility management, and sports information.”

In 1957 Walter O’Malley president and chief stockholder of the LA Dodgers Baseball Club anticipated the future growth of organised sport and predicted the need for professionally prepared sport administrators. As a result of this prediction Dr.James Mason from Ohio University created a Masters level Sport administration programme. The course was the first recorded attempt to provide a graduate level curriculum specifically designed to prepare students for jobs in a variety of sport related industries. The idea caught on and currently there is over 158 sport undergraduate management programs and 103 post graduate programs worldwide.

The Council of Europe defines sport as “all forms of physical activity which, through casual (informal) or organised participation aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well being, formal social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels”.

According to Pitts and Stotlar 2002 the term sport management refers to “all people, activities, businesses, and organisations involved in producing, facilitating, promoting or organising any product that is sport, fitness and recreation related”. Sport and fitness is a multi-billion dollar business, involved with all areas of life, education, business and tourism.

origin of cognitive prosthetics and evolution as a concept for dementia

A cognitive prosthetic is assistive technology that helps a person with cognitive deficits function more independently in certain tasks. It is an entire system that helps the individual in ways that are specific to that person’s needs. Below are features that define a cognitive prosthetic:

• A cognitive prosthetic is a compensatory strategy that directly assists the individual in performing daily activities. It helps a person to maximize their strengths and abilities to compensate for their deficits.
• A cognitive prosthetic is computer-based, meaning the system uses a desktop or laptop computer.
• The cognitive prosthetic is set up in the home or office
• A cognitive prosthetic is always developed and implemented through a therapeutic process that includes the therapist, the client, and computer programmers.
• A cognitive prosthetic is custom-designed for each individual client. This enables:
  • Specific adaptation to the individual, the activities and the environment
  • Faster acquisition of skills. Client’s are always able to start using the system from the first day of therapy.
• While it is being used by the client, a cognitive prosthetic captures data about how and when it is being used. This data is very helpful to the therapist to further customize the system to meet the client’s needs

Cognitive Prosthetics aim to aid both the carer and the client, providing both with the tools to aid the client’s memory, perform day to day tasks and enforce the aspect of dignity and security during the early stages of diagnosed dementia. ICP (Institute for Cognitive Prosthetics), founded and pioneered by Dr Elliot Cole based in Pennsylvania, have been using IT systems, in conjunction with social services to help neural rehabilitation.

Early micro-systems provided insight to whether brain-damaged clients could form sentences by interacting with a series of icons on computers. They also have been providing telerahabilition services since 1991, in conjunction with out-patient services. Furthermore early cognitive prosthetics have allowed the carer to connect to the client’s computer, providing the carer with a detailed knowledge of the client’s use of technology.

The key issues addressed with early cognitive prosthetics was utilising technology to enable the client to communicate with care professionals. It was recognised that top of the range healthcare was simply unavailable for much of the population who needed access to brain-trauma services. Cognitive Prosthetics aimed to provide in-home support for those individuals who could not travel to receive care, whilst also seeing a regular carer to aid their development at home.

Research has shown that memory-loss, security and dignity are serious issues for patients. Previous providers of care for dementia patient include Fold Telecare who provided users with warning systems, alarms and telephone support and are the main providers of in-home care products for sufferers of dementia in Northern Ireland today. Other cognitive prosthetics research such as those in Sweden (development of an easyADL prosthesis) have involved the use of VR to encourage clients to learn everyday tasks in order to be able to repeat them:
Video clip of the the easyADL cognitive prosthesis in action

COGKNOW specialise in researching and delivering solutions for carers and sufferers of dementia specifically. Previous cognitive prostheitcs have focussed on providing cognitive resotration functionality for those with severe head injuries and brain trauma. The COGKNOW system goes beyond video-conferencing providing in-home support with interactive features and is available 24/7, something which telerehabilitation cannot provide.

The COGKNOW software system in development at the moment is easily manipulated and will be easy to install in the home. The technology is easily set-up in the home and provides useful reminders and easy to use telecommunication as well as providing enjoyable daily activities such as listening to the radio or phoning relatives or carers. COGKNOW and other cognitive prosthetic Research and Development are geared towards affording dementia sufferers a sense of security and re-assurance, whilst emphasising the need for those suffering from dementia to have a sense of self-reliance and confidence in the home.

Whereas competitors such as Fold Telecare have many instruments within the home to assist dementia; COGKNOW’s simple PDA and monitor with broadband access can provide these services, and is comparatively better value.

http://www.brain-rehab.com/pdf/Cole_Cog_Pros_First_Reveiw_of_the_Field.pdf - early evaluation of cognitive prosthetics

http://www.brain-rehab.com/pdf/Tele_Rehab_Therapist_Friendly_Tools_RESNA_2000.pdf- use of telerahibilitation eg video conferencing for therapist/client yr2000

http://www.brain-rehab.com/pdf/cpt1999.pdf - an introduction to the benefits of cognitive prosthetics by DR Elliott Cole, published 1998

nov2001- http://www.brain-rehab.com/pdf/Tele_Rehab_OT_Practice_Nov_2001.pdf

http://www.cs.umu.se/research/easyadl/- development of a VR system May 2007 by Swedish university.

http://cogknow.eu/- COGKNOW’s official website.

Evolution of the ‘open innovation’ concept to the present day

(Figure 1.0)             (Figure 1.1)              (Figure 2.0)

 In order for Companies to compete on a global scale and within  competitive global markets Companies are developing strong strategic alliances and collaborations with other Companies most of which are direct competitors. Gone are the days where an Organisation had its own in house research and development department (R & D) to purely serve the needs of that particular organisation. 

Prior to 1940 the paradigm adopted by Companies of that time was that of closed innovation. Companies would carry out their own research in developing and assessing the feasbility of new products before introduction to the market place. Closed innovation releated to limited access to knowledge and with minimal or now involvement with exterior stakeholders of the business. The business model had alot to do with this as it determines what external information to bring inside and what internal information to bring outside.

Closed Innovation - (See figure 1.0)

• Traditional Mass production and process improvement
• Slow customer feedback cycle
• Customer surveys
• Market potential
• Variety of products

Open Innovation - (See figure 1.1)

• Customer creative contribution
• Design of core solutions
• no ownership
• multiple stakeholders
• high customer commitment

 By not sharing knowledge and information Companies found they were limiting their potential and understood that if they ’share’ knowledge they too could benefit from gaining the knowledge of outsiders and even competitors.

 We know live in a society where knowledge is fundamental to the success and growth of a business venture. Before the advent of the internet and e-commerce Companies really only operated on a local scale, now with the advent of technology and information being readily available they can seek to harness new business opportunities through collaboration with competitors which in turn gives both the benefit to tackle emergent markets.  One example would be car manufactures tackling Russia’s lucrative car market.

“To be an open innovator, a Company employes external collaborators to originate or develop innovations. This is the flip side of closed innovation, where in-house  research and development, production engineering and marketing departments collaborate to produce new products and services” - NESTA

 Today additional trends are making open innovation especially relevant to Companies today these include;

• Increasing horizionalisation, digital convergence and expansion of ICT competitive landscape.
• Increasing need for business model innovation to capture value from technologies developed.
• shortening product lifecylce and rapdily changing market needs.

One such Company which has followed suit in pursuing the open innovation concept is Proctor and Gamble.

1. Proctor & Gamble (P & G)

 Goal - 50% of innovations sourced externally by 2008, this compares to 20% in 2000. An increase in 30% over an eight year period.

Results - Increased product hit rate: 90% in 2003 and increase of 70% from 2001.   (Source)

Other companies are also following suit with collaborations such as car manufactures BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroen. It was noted in December 2006 the two Companies would work together to conduct a new engine feasibility.  (Source)

Lego was able to increase added value to its mindstorms concept through a joint venture with M.I.T they involved fan sites, software developers and the end user in its development to improve the over all end product. (See figure 2.0).

Today we are seeing Companies look to University’s for innovation. Most Universities have some sort of spin off Company they use to grow and harness the potential from research they have gathered. Queen’s University have some 40+ spin off Companies and indeed the University of Ulster has its own research company UU Tech Ltd.  We are now in an era that in order to be competitive in todays market place at a global level we need to share information and knowledge and involve external stakeholders if we aim to be successfull, we only have to look at the likes of proctor and gamble, Lego and IBM to see the benefits of harnessing open innovation as opposed to the old style closed innovation.

Evolution of Social Networking to the present day

 Click to enlarge image (Evolution of social networking)

 Social networking began in 1995 with Classmates.com developed by Randy Conrads. The purpose of Classmates was to allow its members to find and connect with old friends and colleagues from school, university and the Military. Although Classmates was established in 1995 It did not become profitable until 2001, some 6 years later.  Classmates business model is based upon user generated advertising and content (UGC). Where end users simply develop and create online spaces for the purpose of attracting other users for its enjoyment.   Up until around 2001 when Classmates became profitable only a small handfull of social networking sites exististed these being FriendsCircles developed in 1999 by Jonathan Bishop, Myspace developed in February 1999 by Thomas Anderson and Christopher DeWolfe, In 2000 Faceparty was launched by Dave Bamforth and Phineas Kibbey.   In March 2002 Friendster was launched by Jonathan Abrams. January 2004 saw the launch of Orkut by google worker Orkut Buyukkokten shortly after in February 2004 Facebook was launched by Mark Zuckerberg.  In January 2005 Bebo was launched by Husband and Wife duo Michael Birch and Xochi Birch however the site underwent an extensive relaunch July 2005 only 7 months after its debut. Yahoo 360 was launched in March 2005 by Yahoo!. The most recent offering to the world of social networking sites is Six degrees.org launched in January 2007 by Kevin Bacon. 

 We have seen an evolution of social networking offerings from sites which reunite and allow past and present friends to communicate such as classmates.com to sites which focus on charity work and doing something good, which is the aim of sixdegrees.org. Social networking sites have become more and more involved in different aspects of society the concept of allow individuals to communicate has not been forgotten it has essentially evolved to understand how we can help society and do something worthwhile with the technology we take for granted.

•  Worldwide growth of social networking

Click to enlarge image (Worldwide growth of social networking sites, June 2007 Vs June 2006)

The big ‘3′ social networking sites MySpace, Facebook and Bebo have been performing considerably well of late.  According to figures released from Equimedia the following can be conferred ;

1. As at June 2007 MySpace had 114 million visitors compared to 66,401 on June 2006 this contributes to a growth rate of 72 %.
2. As at June 2007 Bebo had 18,200 visitors compared to 6,694 on June 2006 this contributes to a growth rate of 172%.
3. As at June 2007 Facebook had 52,167 visitors compared to 14,083 on June 2006 this contributes to a growth rate of 270%.
4. As at June 2007 Tagged had 13,167 visitors compared to 1,506 on June 2006 this contributes to a growth rate of 774% making it the fastest growing social networking website worldwide.

The above figures are quite interesting, Tagged was launched in October 2004, shortly after Facebook was launched. Some 5 years after MySpace and a few months before Bebo. Although it has the smallest number of visitors it has achieved significant growth beating the top 3.  It seems that Tagged is starting to establish itself within the domain of social networking and if you take growth rate into consideration is giving other social networking sites a run for their money.  MySpace out of the above four is the longest established social networking site, I am not surprised to see its growth rate decline MySpace does not appear to be reinventing itself. MySpace in order to become more competitive needs to become more innovative and offer inspiring users something different.

•  Growth in the UK

   Click on the Image (Top 10 Social Networks in the UK by Internet visits November 2007)

 According to figures obtained from Hitwise (an Experian Company) Facebook is the most visited social networking site in the UK with 37.7% of visits. 2nd came Bebo with 28%, followed by MySpace with 18.97%. The others had minority figures such as Faceparty in 4th place at 2.01%. Click on the above image for further information.

The figures obtained here are very different from that showing social networking visits on a worldwide scale. Worldwide MySpace is the most popular site however within the UK it comes in 3rd with only 18.97% of the total visits.  The UK’s most popular social networking site Facebook is the 2nd most popular worldwide.

 Although at this present time we have many different social networking sites that cater for a wide variety of audiences it appears that MySpace, Bebo and Facebook remain in the top 3 both in the UK and Worldwide. Only time will tell if the big 3 social networking sites will remain their, with technology constantly changing and evolving with new sites constantly appearing such as  Six Degrees.org can they remain cempetitive. Only time will tell.

Evolution of Blogs

Did you Know - The word weblog celebrated its 10^th Anniversary on 17^th December 2007, after first being coined on 17^th December 1997.

Blogs or Blogging has come along way from the first form of online diaries that appeared before the world wide web took off.

Technology has allowed blogs to evolve over time to what we see now. Previously blogs were little no more than an online personal diary of the bloggers life. Today we have media rich content which is both innovative and creative.

The BBC claim “In 1999 the phenomenon took off as easy to use tools started to appear which made it much easier to write and maintain these sort of websites.

Social networking websites such as Bebo and Myspace have grown out of blogging. Bebo actually stands for ‘Blog early, blog often’.

In early 1999 Peter Merholz coins the term blog after announcing he was going to pronounce web blogs as ‘wee-blog’, that was then shortened to blog. At, this stage, a list maintained by Jesse James Garrett recorded that there were 23 known weblogs in existence. – The Blog Herald (www.bloghearld.com)

Many people still refer to blogs as so called online diaries, however blogs have envolved into media rich content which include, audio, photographs and video with advent of todays technology. This not only makes

Today bloggers are spoiled for choice, Blog making sites such as; Blogger, Typepad, Blogware and Typepress are making it easier and more accessbile for people to record anything and everything that they want. As the underlying technology of the World Wide Web has evolved so too has its users.