For the first time ever, officials will use a new app at an outdoor NHL Stadium Series game on Saturday. The NHL Watch Comms App, developed by Presidio for Apple Watch, provides real-time notifications to officials during the game. These notifications include game clock countdowns and penalty clock countdowns.
The app uses haptic feedback, sending vibrations to the officials’ wrists, making it easier for them to track situations on the ice. This technology has been tested at indoor venues for several seasons but marks its debut in an outdoor setting.
According to David Lehanski, NHL executive vice president of business development and innovation, the new app addresses a specific challenge of outdoor environments. Without a giant scoreboard above center ice, officials must rely on their watch for timing and situational information. The goal is to provide this critical data directly to the officials’ wrists.
The NHL has collaborated with Apple and Presidio to develop this solution. Officials have been using the app widely this season, with over 90% participation rate. The League worked closely with its partners to refine the technology for outdoor games.
Presidio’s vice president of digital services, Andres de Corral, stated that their team designed an app to enhance game clock and penalty box awareness, improving player and official safety and reducing game interruptions.
Source: https://www.nhl.com/news/apple-watch-app-provides-nhl-on-ice-officials-with-important-information