Cadence designed the device to be small and light enough for officials to carry easily, water-tight for use in inclement weather, and shockproof to withstand the abuse it will receive in professional football games. Full production and customer deliveries started in July 1999. The architecture Cadence developed permits ready modification for the wide range of applications planned for the product. Spectators as well as officials will use derivative models to replay events and individual plays, not just in American football but also in soccer, golf, and track and field - virtually any sporting event. The unit can provide much more than video replay, mixing in data such as team statistics and player profiles.
Sports are only the beginning.
Police and security guards will employ future models for monitoring casinos, schools, and other sites. Still, the most immediate and high-profile application is American pro football, where fan interest in Instant Replay was rekindled during the 1998 NFL season by a series of prominent officiating errors. The league responded by reinstituting the practice despite trepidation about its effect on the length and flow of games. Now, with the Scanz Scannor, Instant Replay won't negatively affect these aspects of the game. Within about 15 seconds, referees and fans alike will be able to identify the proper call in a controversial play.