Paul Hawkins | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 24, 1976 United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Durham University |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, technologist, former cricketer |
| Known for | Co-inventor of Hawk-Eye |
Paul Hawkins (born 24 June 1976) is a British mathematician, entrepreneur, technologist, and former cricketer, best known as the co-inventor of Hawk-Eye, a computer vision system used in sports officiating. Originally developed for cricket, the technology has since been adopted in tennis, football, and numerous other sports worldwide. [1]
Hawkins was born in the United Kingdom and attended Durham University, where he studied Physics and represented the university cricket team. [2]
A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium bowler, Hawkins played first-class cricket for the Durham University Centre of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE) in the early 2000s. [3] While not pursuing a professional cricket career, his playing experience contributed to his deep understanding of ball-tracking technology.
Hawkins co-invented Hawk-Eye in 2001 while working with engineers at Roke Manor Research. Initially intended to enhance television broadcasts of cricket matches, the system quickly gained a reputation for accuracy in tracking the trajectory of a ball. It was soon adopted by sports governing bodies for decision review systems (DRS) in cricket, line-calling in tennis, and goal-line technology in football. [1] [4]
In 2006, Hawk-Eye Innovations was acquired by Wisden Group, and later by Sony Corporation in 2011. [5]
Hawkins has continued to work on sports technology, including automated officiating systems, data analytics, and virtual reality training tools for athletes. [6]
Hawkins remains active in sports development projects and has been involved in initiatives aimed at improving fairness and accuracy in sports officiating.