Que los atletas se reúnan con los entrenadores para revisar su desempeño y planificar el próximo partido es una tradición consagrada. Pero la próxima generación de deportes electrónicos Las estrellas pueden confiar en entrenadores con mejor Wi-Fi que silbatos.
La plataforma de deportes electrónicos PlayVS y el proveedor de análisis de juegos con tecnología de inteligencia artificial Omnic.AI se están asociando en un juego dual para ayudar a los jugadores jóvenes a mejorar en una variedad de videojuegos competitivos, con un enfoque en los estudiantes de secundaria en los torneos escolares de deportes electrónicos.
Los análisis de IA se han convertido en una herramienta popular para que los jugadores revisen su desempeño e identifiquen áreas de mejora. La plataforma Omnic Forge de Omnic.AI aprovecha la inteligencia artificial para analizar el rendimiento de los jugadores cuando juegan juegos como Valorant, fortnitey la liga de cohetes Escucha 2, con Madden y otros títulos en proceso. Los jugadores cargan el metraje de su juego en Omnic Forge para analizarlo y determinar sus fortalezas y debilidades en detalle de manera mucho más rápida y económica que contratar a un entrenador humano de eSports.
Entrenador de inteligencia artificial
El acuerdo con PlayVS amplía las herramientas de Omnic Forge para incluir su base de usuarios de jugadores más jóvenes. Los estudiantes de secundaria que usan PlayVS obtienen acceso gratuito a las funciones de Omnic Forge. Es una forma para que los jugadores de las ligas escolares de deportes electrónicos obtengan visibilidad profesional sin los altos costos.
Los usuarios gratuitos obtienen cinco cargas y dos conocimientos por juego, aunque puedes pagar por un acceso ilimitado y más profundo al análisis de IA. La plataforma también permite a los jugadores comparar sus habilidades con jugadores profesionales que comparten estilos de juego similares, permitiéndoles aprender de los mejores jugadores.
El acuerdo muestra cómo la IA está cambiando no sólo la forma en que se crean los juegos, sino también cómo se juegan e incluso cómo se integran en el software educativo y adyacente al educativo. Con la creciente popularidad de los deportes electrónicos, es probable que los estudiantes de todos los campos estén interesados en utilizar el análisis de IA para mejorar su juego y tal vez incluso mejorar sus posibilidades de convertirse en profesionales. O al menos elaborar estrategias para otras partes de sus vidas.
El análisis avanzado puede desarrollar habilidades para juegos específicos y deportes electrónicos en general. Omnic incluso afirma que el entrenamiento en IA puede elevar el nivel de pensamiento crítico, comunicación y otras habilidades que se trasladan al mundo real.
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“La colaboración con Omnic.AI representa un gran avance en la forma en que apoyamos y desarrollamos a los jugadores jóvenes”, dijo John Chapman, director ejecutivo de PlayVS. “Su tecnología innovadora ayudará a nuestra comunidad a perfeccionar sus habilidades y destacarse entre otros jugadores, permitiéndoles continuar mejorando sus habilidades y alcanzando nuevas alturas dentro y fuera del mundo de los deportes electrónicos”.
The BenQ Zowie EC2-CW is a no-frills wireless gaming mouse intended for high-level esports play. It trades flashy specs and extraneous features for supremely reliable performance and comfortable ergonomics, making it easy to recommend if you’re searching for a plug-and-play mouse specifically for use in competitive first-person shooter (FPS) titles like Counter-Strike 2. For everyone outside of that niche, however, the high asking price and plain design mean that you’re likely to be better served by more mainstream options.
A wireless version of the existing Zowie EC2-C, which is a popular pick for professional FPS players, the Zowie EC2-CW sports a highly ergonomic right-handed asymmetrical factor that fits in your palm like a glove. It remains impressively comfortable over extended periods of use, which is especially important if you’re going to be undertaking lengthy practice sessions.
(Image credit: Future)
While I personally experienced the highest level of comfort with the medium-sized EC2-CW, there are also two additional models available: the EC1-CW and the EC3-CW. The EC1-CW is longer and wider and the EC3-CW is a little shorter. Each version differs by a few grams in weight but is otherwise identical in terms of features. I suspect that the EC2-CW is going to be the best option for the majority of players, but it’s still excellent to see alternatives for those with bigger or smaller hands. That said, there isn’t a single model that is suitable for left-handed users at the moment which is a disappointment.
Although manufacturer BenQ declined to offer any exact details regarding the construction materials and components used in the mouse, making them seem like some kind of closely guarded trade secret, it’s safe to say that the exterior is made of a smooth black matt plastic. This means that I also can’t say for sure what kind of micro switches are used for the main buttons, but can vouch for their satisfying level of actuation depth and ability to provide accurate, clean inputs. The mouse also features two additional buttons on its left side, which are both generously sized and fit well under the thumb thanks to their slightly curved shape.
The scroll wheel is made of a rubberized material, with pronounced ribs. Scrolling uses a careful notched motion that requires a fair amount of force to turn, which took me a little while to get used to. In the long run, however, the more precise controls proved extremely beneficial and helped prevent any unfortunate accidental weapon-switches in even the most high-intensity moments of ranked Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
(Image credit: Future)
Hidden just below the scroll wheel are three miniscule white LED lights. These illuminate while the mouse is receiving power, denoting the current charge level on a scale of one to three. It’s a useful way to keep track of your remaining battery life which is quoted to last roughly 70 hours – a figure that I found was generally accurate no matter my choice of settings. On the underside of the mouse, you will find the mode switch (which alternates between wired and wireless mode), a report rate switch button, and a DPI switch button. LED lights positioned alongside intuitive labels show your current report rate, which can be switched between 125 Hz, 500 Hz, and 1000 Hz.
There is also an RGB LED denoting your current sensitivity, which can be raised to a limit of 3,200 DPI. This is quite a modest figure, ten times lower than the 32,000 DPI of other premium mice like the Logitech Pro X Superlight 2. While this might be a dealbreaker for some, most professional Counter-Strike 2 players actually tend to favor a sensitivity as low as 400 DPI or 800 DPI. Handily, both a 400 DPI and 800 DPI mode are built-in – an essential addition when there is no available companion software meaning the mouse is restricted to its range of out-of-the-box presets.
(Image credit: Future)
Another area where the Zowie EC2-CW appears to be behind the competition is in its relatively hefty weight of 2.79oz (79g). This is higher than many other wireless gaming mice at this price range, but seems to be a considered choice rather than an oversight. Playing at 800 DPI, the weight lends a fantastic level of precision that would simply wouldn’t be able to achieve otherwise. Accidental movement is almost impossible, helping you keep your sights on target in titles where one pixel of inaccuracy can cost your team the win. A replacement set of adhesive skates is also provided in the box, ensuring that you can keep the level of friction consistent if the set that comes preinstalled begins to wear out.
Even though the mouse can be charged through a front USB-C port using the lengthy cable packed in the box, which is also used for wired play, it comes packed with its own compact charging dock. The mouse connects to the dock through two metal contacts on its underside, easily slotting into place. In addition to providing easy charging, the dock doubles as a wireless receiver, reducing the potential for signal interference by drastically cutting down the distance that would be present with a traditional wireless dongle. I’ve suffered from the occasional signal dropout or odd moment latency using other wireless mice via a wireless dongle, but did not experience anything of the kind with the Zowie EC2-CW with its wireless receiver.
(Image credit: Future)
It’s a fantastic inclusion on the whole, especially when you consider that it’s quite compact and easy to fit into your setup. Although using the wireless receiver is definitely the way to go, a more conventional USB receiver and dongle extender are also included here giving you plenty of options.
If you have the budget to spend and truly value reliability and performance in competitive FPS titles above leading specs and a flashy design, it’s easy to recommend the Zowie EC2-CW. If that’s not you, however, be sure to check out some of the top alternatives listed later on.
BenQ Zowie EC2-CW: Price & availability
How much does it cost? $119.99 / £129.99 / AU$179
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Zowie EC2-CW costs $119.99 / £129.99 / AU$179. It is readily available in the US, UK, and Australia either directly from BenQ or via third-party retailers like Amazon. Although this is very much a high-end price tag, it comes in slightly cheaper than some of the leading alternatives such as the ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition, which costs $139.99 / £139.99 / AU$189.
Given the more modest specs of this mouse, you’re definitely paying a large premium for the ergonomic shape and wireless receiver. If you’re willing to compromise on the wireless connectivity, you can pick up the wired Zowie EC2 for just $44.99 / £64.99 / AU$99 which boasts the same fantastic design. If you are set on a wireless gaming mouse, however, the comfort offered by the Zowie EC2-CW definitely makes it worth considering even at this lofty price.
(Image credit: Future)
BenQ Zowie EC2-CW: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Interface:
Wired (USB-C), 2.4GHz wireless
Ergonomics:
Right-handed asymmetrical
Buttons:
5
DPI:
Up to 3,200
Switches:
Micro Switches
Weight:
2.79oz (79g)
Should you buy the BenQ Zowie EC2-CW?
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Value
The Zowie EC2-CW is expensive, especially compared to its wired counterpart, but it’s still worth considering thanks to the superior comfort on offer.
3 / 5
Design
The Zowie EC2-CW isn’t flashy looking, but it’s well-designed in the one area where it truly counts: ergonomics.
4 / 5
Performance
If you’re playing competitive FPS games like Counter-Strike 2, the performance of this mouse is second to none.
5 / 5
Avarage rating
The Zowie EC2-CW stands out as a result of its brilliant ergonomics and top performance.
4 / 5
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
BenQ Zowie EC2-CW: Also consider
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Row 0 – Cell 0
BenQ Zowie EC2-CW
Razer Basilisk V3 Pro
Cooler Master MM311
Price:
$119.99 / £129.99 / AU$179
$159 / £159 / AU$289
$39.99 / about £34 / AU$59
Interface:
Wired (USB-C), 2.4GHz wireless
Hyperspeed Wireless, Bluetooth, Wired
2.4GHz Wireless
Ergonomics:
Right-handed asymmetrical
Right-handed asymmetrical
Right-handed asymmetrical
Buttons:
5
5
5
DPI:
3,200
36,000
32,000
Switches:
Micro Switches
ROG Micro Switches
LIGHTFORCE Hybrid Switches
Weight:
2.79oz (79g)
1.90oz (54g)
2.12oz (60g)
How I tested the BenQ Zowie EC2-CW
Tested for three months
Tested with top esports titles
Used daily for both work and gaming
I spent three whole months using the Zowie EC2-CW as my main mouse. This meant daily use for productivity tasks and internet browsing, plus a lot of gaming.
While I predominantly focused on PC esports FPS titles like Counter-Strike 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, I also played plenty of other games. This included lots of nefarious scheming in Evil Genius 2, a playthrough of The Caligula Effect: Overdose, some Team Fortress 2 with friends, and more. I made sure to test the mouse using its wireless receiver, in addition to its wireless dongle and a wired USB-C connection.
As a hardware writer at TechRadar covering gaming hardware, I have no shortage of hands-on experience with gaming peripherals. In addition to maintaining our guide to the best mice for CS:GO and CS2, I’m a dedicated FPS player with an almost embarrassing number of hours spent in all the latest and greatest titles.
Here’s one example: If you took one million US dollar bills and laid them end to end, the chain of cash would stretch for 96.9 miles — roughly the distance from Manhattan to the Hamptons out on Long Island. Piling those same bills vertically would yield a stack well taller than a 30-story building.
Speaking of one million: Crestron is rapidly approaching that very number of DM NVX® AV-over-IP units that will have been shipped since the product’s introduction.
The reason: DM NVX AV-over-IP solutions are incredibly versatile — not to mention reliable. Here’s a peek at just two of the thousands of projects that feature DM NVX technology.
Education: Esports at UNC Greensboro
An esports program is more than team competition or entertainment for a student body. It’s also a great way to introduce students to a variety of disciplines, from computer programming to management and even broadcasting. When UNC Greensboro undertook the creation of a 3,300 square-foot arena with 48 gaming PCs and three gaming console bays, they asked Horizon AVL and Esports Integration to create a Crestron solution.
“The flexibility, reliability, and ease of use is why my team decided to install DM NVX technology in the UNCG Esports Center,” said Joshua Kell, Chief Executive Officer, Horizon AVL, and Esports Integration.
As the case study notes, Crestron DM NVX routes audio and video to create scenic elements in their game bases. The several game bays hold various consoles that can be plugged into the wall and displayed on the corresponding TV for each game bay, which is immediately routed with a Crestron DM NVX encoder. Crestron DM NVX was also introduced into the broadcast system to have full 4K broadcasting that converts the HDMI signal to SDI, so broadcasting and streaming can happen simultaneously with very low latency.
There’s a hotel at the foot of Poland’s incredibly scenic Tatra Mountains, a four-star family-run complex with 277 rooms, two restaurants, thermal baths, and a world-class conference center. A recent renovation demanded a state-of-the-art AV solution that required minimal cabling, and a Crestron DM NVX AV-over-IP system installed by the firm A+V filled the bill.
“Thanks to the functionalities offered by Crestron’s DM NVX AV-over-IP technology, an impressive conference space was established in one of the most beautiful locations in Poland,” notedJarosław Kołcun, CEO, A+V.
The conference room, for example, needed multiple displays to ensure that meeting attendees could see presentations from any angle — and DM NVX technology handles the task with zero latency. Customers and their guests can tailor the system to their needs, helping turn the resort into a true business-meets-pleasure destination — and raising the area’s visibility as a vacation wonderland.
“We’ve had immensely positive feedback about the Crestron technology from our customers, which we’re gladly seeing translate into more inquiries — and reservations!” said Tomasz Rzadkosz, Events Manager, Hotel Bania Thermal & Ski.