TOEFL Essay #2

The 21st century has begun. What changes do you think this new century will bring? Use examples and details in your answer. 

   Throughout the 20th century, lot's of things have changed. One of the most significant changes is technological development. Lots of people say that technological development has made our life more convenient than before, but is that all? Even sports nowadays have lots of difference compared to 1950s. Speaking of basketball, due to technological development, it has changed a lot and it's quite interesting to think about basketball in future.

  

  First of all, basketball court have changed a lot. Game timer was able to develop due to technological development. Timer in 1950s, 1980s, and timer in present shows a lot of difference.Timers in 1950s were nothing more than just a large clock. In 1970s to 80s, timer have been replaced into electric clock. After the electric clock has been removed, new machine have been replaced. It's more than just a timer, as it allows the audience to watch the game easier than before. In my opinion, even more advanced 'timer' can be placed on the court. If there's a timer on the court just like one in american football field, it will facilitate the audience to know time remaining, as they won't have to miss the game when looking up to see the timer.

maybe people will be able to
make a court as a screen

  Ticketing system have changed either. In the past, people had to go to the stadium in order to buy a ticket. However, thanks to the internet, we don't have to go to the stadium to buy a ticket anymore. Instead, we can buy a game ticket in house. Also, way people enter the stadium has changed. In 1950s, there were lots of employees placed on the entrance, to get the ticket, check the ticket, and let them in. These days, entrance became lot more easier. With few security guard standing, people enters the stadium by put the ticket into the machine and machine opens the path. With this machine, entering have become more accurate and faster. In the close future, stadium may not need security guard anymore. It is because from the past, it is evident that machines are doing something that human has been doing before, and security guard may not be an exception.

basketball uniform in
1960s

  Basketball uniform is quite hard to tell. Basketball uniforms have less to do with technology. Until 1990s, basketball pants were very short, because with short pants, players will be able to run faster and play more aggressively, and make crowd more interesting. However, after the 90s, pants became longer. The reason is that people might  have repulsion of looking at full-grown man wearing shorts, which shows up to their thigh. Although shorts are more convenient in playing aggressive and fast paced game, social view about the shorts have changed a basketball uniform. Because the change of the uniform depends on social view rather than technology, it is hard to guess how it will change in the future.

development of science
enabled the backboard not
to get broken like the
picture above.

 Even basketball had a lots of things that have changed and will change as the time pass. Such as uniforms and sports science, changing of these are related to change of our society. They are mostly related to technological development, and some are related to social view. However, it's too early to predict about sports in the future because popular sports like basketball and soccer were played less than 100 years. For the last 60 years in basketball history, development of basketball usually depended on technological development. However, from now on, changes in basketball will  usually rely on creativity rather than technological development, as it seems like development is getting slower than before.