"Beyond the Finish Line makes a compelling argument for how and why the art and practice of creating a photo-finish are socially meaningful and culturally relevant. Finn's thoughtful and provocative analyses open a new window to our collective understanding of sport, technology, and culture." Rayvon Fouché, Purdue University and author of Game Changer: The Technoscientific Revolution in Sports
"Beyond the Finish Line is a nuanced analysis of the interplay of technology and sporting competition. The author discusses the historical use of photography and film in breaking down the myth of the dead heat, as well as the complex and increasingly refined technology of timekeeping. In the process, he always keeps in mind the impossibility of removing human intervention from determining winners in close races. In particular, Finn makes the reader aware of the importance of market influences on what kind and what brand of technology would be used at the Olympics. Recommended." Choice
"Before I read this book, my thoughts on good photo-finish technology was: we just need super high speed cameras placed around a race track, synced with high quality/fidelity cables, and coupled with really good trigger sensors so everything is fully automated and precise. But now I understand that every sport governing body has different regulations because there are different limitations and tolerances/consistencies to consider for each sport and their environment. This was an eye opener for me. This is a great book. It has lots of interesting stores or recounts of events. For those who are into sports history and like technology stories, this should be on your "to-read" list." Sports Technology Blog
"Finn's meticulous walk through time shows that, as much as the tools have developed and as much as the relationship between humans and timing systems has improved our interpretation of results, computers and automation will never fully eliminate the drama of competition." Literary Review of Canada
“There is important material here on the limits of measurement, drawn out by rich and informative exploration of several specific and highly contested recent instances in track, swimming and skiing exploring how decisions were made, the evidence deployed and judgments invoked by judges, and the limits of increasingly fine time measurements...Finn makes a significant contribution to sports history, as well as to explorations of technology and to philosophical analyses in the field. What is more, he does so in an engaging and accessible manner, taking potentially demanding ideas and material and making its meaning and significance clear enhancing the book’s multi-disciplinary significance.” Journal of the Philosophy of Sport
"Beyond the Finish Line analyses our fascination with accurate measurement in the sports world. A major contribution to the discussion, it moves from a history of stop-action cameras to the development of precision timing at the Olympics and our unquestioned belief in its accuracy. It shows the limitless capacity of human endurance in the pursuit of speed and the efforts of machines to keep up." Marta Braun, Toronto Metropolitan University and author of Picturing Time: The Work of Etienne-Jules Marey (1830-1904)
“This highly sourced book is a valuable and important contribution to not just sports history but also the history of technology and, to a degree, business history.” Journal of Sports History