Holy Puck!

A hockey puck is about as simple as it gets.  A hunk of vulcanized rubber 3 inches in diameter, 1 inch think and approximately 6 ounces.  The pucks are frozen before each game and in an ice-cooler in the penalty box during the game.  By lowering the temperature of the pucks glide is increased and the amount of bounce is decreased.  A puck is an extremely durable piece of equipment but earlier this year someone managed the unthinkable.  Check out this video:

 

In 1996 Fox Sports attempted to revolutionize the game of hockey for viewers by introducing a new puck.  Inside the puck was a computer board as well as several infrared emitters.  Pin-sized holes are drilled though the puck to allow the infrared waves to be emitted.  Several receptors were placed around the rink and connected to the "Puck Truck" outside of the arena by fiberoptics.  Using the read-outs of the receptors and linking them with the broadcast Fox was able to show the game on tv with a neon blue halo highlighting the puck.  When the puck was shot a red tail was shown coming from the puck.  A read-out of the speed of the shot was also shown throughout the broadcast.  The idea was that newcomers to the sport were anable to follow the small, speedy puck on tv and this would increase enjoyment in watching the game.  The FoxTrax puck was only around for a year or two before dying out.

Check out this video to see how it worked:

 

Sean