New technologies ready to assist NFL referees
A tough call on first down, the refs determine an NFL teams fate in a tough game. The referee tunes out the stadium loudness, puts on a pair of goggles, and enters virtual reality. He sees the field as a three-dimensional way. He focuses on the yellow line seeing the distance needed for a first down. From his eye of view, the line rips through the tip of the ball. The referee signals a first down, backed by the kind of computer-generated accuracy that thrills engineers and silences critics.