Online Archive of University of Virginia Scholarship
Final Capstone Project Report: Force-Sensing Swimming Starting Block; An Analysis of the Effects of Capital and Technological Investment on Basketball Players and Society128 views
Author
Chen, Andy, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia
Advisors
Earle, Joshua, EN-Engineering and Society, University of Virginia
Barnes, Adam, EN-Elec & Comp Engr Dept, University of Virginia
Ono, Ken, AS-Mathematics (MATH), University of Virginia
DeSorbo, Todd, AT-Swimming, University of Virginia
Abstract
Both my technical and STS projects explore the intersection of technology, performance, and athletics. My technical project, the force-sensing swimming starting block, embodies a real-world example of targeted technological investment to enhance elite athlete performance. Developed for one of the top collegiate swimming programs in the nation, it demonstrates how precise measurement and data analytics can be used to drive performance needed in an increasingly competitive sports environment.
My STS project extends this observation into a broader societal critique by examining how technology and capital has been introduced into sports and has shaped who gets to compete at the highest levels. As technology raises performance standards, it also raises the barriers to entry, reinforcing pre-existing inequalities based on access to financial and social resources. This dynamic mirrors the same pressures observed in swimming: while innovations like our custom starting block offer new opportunities for performance optimization, they also highlight how elite programs benefit disproportionately from technological advancements, leaving resource-constrained athletes and teams at a relative disadvantage.
Together, these projects illustrate that technology in sports is not just about performance enhancement but a reflection of broader societal structures and values. Investment in technology can create new opportunities for excellence, but without equitable access, it can also exacerbate inequalities.
Chen, Andy. Final Capstone Project Report: Force-Sensing Swimming Starting Block; An Analysis of the Effects of Capital and Technological Investment on Basketball Players and Society. University of Virginia, School of Engineering and Applied Science, BS (Bachelor of Science), 2025-05-08, https://doi.org/10.18130/wjp4-dc71.
