Parent Perspective: Ben Edwards' Journey with the Veo Technology
Frederik Hvillum
For Ben Edwards, a parent with three soccer-playing children, managing game recordings used to mean juggling a DSLR camera, handling SD cards, and often missing the key moments while trying to film. After having his camera equipment stolen from his car, Ben discovered Veo's automated camera system at a coaches' convention in Chicago, becoming one of the earliest adopters in the United States.
Despite his technology background, Edwards approached the new system with realistic expectations. "I kind of figured that things wouldn't go well right off the bat," he admits, recalling his initial setup phase. The early adoption came with challenges - he sent numerous emails during the first year asking about features and functionality.
His wife initially showed skepticism about investing in the equipment. "She was very skeptical," Edwards recalls. "I could tell by her reaction that she was mentally kind of flushing the money down the toilet." But Edwards persisted, eventually convincing her of the value.
The Evolution of Usage
Over several years, Edwards' use of Veo has evolved alongside his family's needs:
- Youth soccer recording: Initially just capturing basic game footage
- Team analysis: Sharing footage with coaches for technical review
- High school games: Recording more exciting, fan-filled environments
- Recruiting footage: Now that his oldest is in high school, creating highlight reels for college recruitment
- Live streaming: Enabling family members to watch games remotely when they can't attend in person
"We use it in a variety of different ways," Edwards explains, highlighting how the system has adapted to his family's changing needs.
For him, the most significant benefit has been the ability to be present during games. "The overall experience is that it lets you be present during the game," he emphasizes. Unlike his previous experiences with handheld recording where he would miss critical moments, Veo allows him to fully engage with his children's matches.
The post-game benefits are equally valuable. "It's nice to be able to get it back right away," he notes. "At the end of the night, you go home, plug it in, and wake up the next morning and it's there - all the clips are there. You can share it with the coaches, and the players can pull up their highlights."
Becoming the Sideline Expert
Perhaps most interestingly, Edwards has become an inadvertent ambassador for the technology. "When we first started, there was no one on the sideline - we were the only ones. So everyone would come up to us and ask, 'What is this thing you have on the sideline?'"
This role has continued as the technology has become more widespread. "Usually there's a person or two or a group of people in a school or club that are comfortable with technology and are kind of the go-to people," Edwards explains. "Whenever somebody asks about it, they'll point down the sideline and say, 'Go talk to that guy.'"
He now maintains a demo team account where he can add interested parents or coaches to show them how the system works.
With three children often playing simultaneously, Edwards has developed a system for maximum coverage. "They might be on three different fields at the same time. So what we'll do is I'll send one camera with this team, one camera with that team. I'm there to run the live stream for one team, but for the other teams, someone else can start it."
This coordination allows the family to capture all their children's games, even when logistically impossible to attend each one personally.
Technology Expectations
After years of use, Edwards has developed a balanced perspective on the technology. "The technology has definitely gotten better and improved over time," he acknowledges, while maintaining realistic expectations.
"I think as consumers we quickly forget what it was like before we had these things," he reflects. "We kind of assume that they're going to work, and it's frustrating when they don't."
He advises new users to remember "it's technology, so there are times when it's not going to go right," while emphasizing how far the industry has come. "It is pretty impressive what we can do now versus what we used to be able to do."
From Reluctant Investment to Essential Tool
What began as a reluctant purchase has become an essential part of the Edwards family's sporting life. The cameras now travel to tournaments, are shipped to hotels for away games, and have transformed how the family experiences and preserves their children's athletic memories.
For Edwards, the journey with Veo exemplifies how sports technology can enhance rather than detract from the parental experience - allowing parents to be present in the moment while still capturing every goal, assist, and highlight for posterity.
