And if what we’ve seen at VanMoof’s latest launch in London is anything to go by, they might well be on their way to achieving their lofty goal.

People don’t really need to be sold on the advantages of getting on your bike where it comes to urban mobility. Compared to driving, cycling is better for the environment, cheaper, less issues with parking, and any time there is traffic you’re likely to get to your destination sooner than the cars anyway. And unless you really enjoy getting up-close and personal with random strangers every day, commuting on public transport can quickly lose its appeal, even if we forget about price rises, strikes and random delays.

Compared to driving, cycling is better for the environment, cheaper, less issues with parking, and any time there is traffic you’re likely to get to your destination sooner than the cars
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Yet there are also some issues – ranging from minor annoyances to big problems – that put some folks off cycling too. Exercise is great, but arriving to work all sweaty can be a problem if you’ve got a meeting first thing, or if your employer doesn’t offer proper shower and changing facilities, for example. Then there’s the issue of where to store your bike so it doesn’t get stolen, and safety and maintenance concerns.

That’s why brothers Taco and Ties Carlier started VanMoof back in 2009. To solve all the problems that were stopping ordinary folk from using bikes as their primary city-based mode of transport, just as people do in their native Amsterdam.

From the start, the remit was to be different from any other bike company out there. They avoided hiring people from the industry because they might be reluctant to break the rules and innovate, and they decided that they would make a premium, cool – yet affordable – product to sell directly to consumers, building a global community of fans. Think Tesla, but with fewer wheels.

” To compete at that level, we had to make everything better, faster, simpler, and more convenient. We’ve seen similar business models in the tech industry, but for the 100-year-old bike industry, this is pretty disruptive,” says VanMoof Co-founder Ties Carlier. “We’ve changed everything from design, to production, to the entire consumer experience. We strive to invest as much as possible into the product, and then get it directly to the rider – more bike, less BS.”

If anything shows that there was definitely a gap in the market for that, is the fact that when the VanMoof’s Electrified S2 & X2 became available for pre-order, 6000 people signed up without ever having seen it. That makes it the most successful pre-order launch in cycling history at over €15m so far. That’s certainly impressive, but not really that surprising if you consider how the e-bike market is booming, with global sales predicted to grow by over 60% to $8.5 billion by 2025.

When the VanMoof’s Electrified S2 & X2 became available for pre-order, 6000 people signed up without ever having seen it
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In the years that followed, VanMoof has indeed built that loyal following (and you know you’re at the cool kids’ table when you get David Beckham to take a ride on your bike) with stylish design as well as a some deliciously geeky features to go alongside inherently practical ones. I particularly enjoyed the demo of the alarm system, which features an animated skull so full of malevolent personality you’ll be tempted to name it (at least I would. Skeletor, anyone?)

You know you’re at the cool kids’ table when you get David Beckham to take a ride on your bike
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But even if you’re not down with your pop culture 80s references and literally have trouble telling one end of a bike from another, you’ll still probably like the seamless, idiot-proof and utterly intuitive features of the VanMoof bikes. For example, the bike connects to your phone via an app and instantly recognizes when you approach it, unlocking itself without any need for you to rummage in your bag for keys or struggle with a padlock.

The e-bike market is booming, with global sales predicted to grow by over 60% to $8.5 billion by 2025
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And although there are plenty of existing features to delight current users, there are also enticing possibilities that spring to mind for future iterations, such as integration with maps and navigation apps (as someone with no sense of direction, I can also tell you that a display which indicated which way I should turn to reach my destination would be a godsend) and perhaps the ability to personalize the sound of the bell, much as you would a ringtone. In fact, I believe I would probably have mine set to this “get out of the bike lane” tune by an anonymous cycling hero that went viral a while back…

So let’s delve into the tasty features of the Electrified S2 and X2:

• Intelligent Motor – Smart, powerful integrated front hub motor offering pedal assist up to 32km/h on demand via the boost button (in US mode; EU mode restricts to 25km/h in line with EU regulations.
• Powerful battery – Capacity increases by over 20% to VanMoof Li-ON, 36V, integrated LG cells, removable for servicing.

• Turbo boost – Press the button on the handlebar for on-demand acceleration, getting you up hills and away from crowds at the flash of a green traffic light.
• Quick charge – Empty to full in just 4 hours. Charges to 50% in under 80 minutes.
• Stealth lock – A keyless integrated module that immobilizes the bike and auto-activates the theft defense with a single kick.
• Ultimate Theft Defense – When tampered with, the bike responds with three phases of alarm sounds and flashing lights, telling would-be thieves this bike is too dangerous to steal.
• Rider Recognition – Secure Bluetooth technology allows the bike to respond when the owner is near, automatically unlocking and disarming the Theft Defense system.
• Smart Cartridge – The brains of the bike are tucked into a removable (and replaceable) cylinder, so buying online is seamless and worry-free.
• Matrix Display – Over 160 responsive lights bring the frame to life, displaying speed, battery level, and power-assist level.
• Connected App – Remembers your parking spot, controls the lights, power and theft defense settings. over-the-air updates mean the bike gets smarter over time.
• New Frame Design – VanMoof’s iconic front and rear lights have evolved to fit seamlessly into the re-engineered frame, which houses more tech and power in a sleek new body.
• Tokyo-inspired X Frame – Originally a Japan exclusive, the feisty unisex X-frame is now available worldwide, suited to all riders between 155 and 200 cm

The VanMoof bike connects to your phone via an app and instantly recognizes when you approach it, unlocking itself without any need for you to rummage in your bag for keys or struggle with a padlock
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VanMoof currently has brand stores in Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Tokyo, and San Francisco
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Having seen the strong trend towards smart mobility in places like Holland, I don’t find it surprising that this has been created by a Dutch company. What I do find encouraging is how it’s resonated all over the world already, with VanMoof opening brand shops not only in Amsterdam, but also in London,Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, New York, Taipei and San Francisco.

Having seen the strong trend towards smart mobility in places like Holland, I don’t find it surprising that this has been created by a Dutch company
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You can still reserve the VanMoof Electrified S2 & X2 at vanmoof.com for £100, with a current delivery window of Dec-Jan (just in time for those new year resolutions and rail fare increases). Early bird riders will enjoy an £800 discount on the list price of £3,198, paying the balance of £2,398 before the bike ships. And although that does sound like a lot of money, compared to a car or high-end bike it’s actually pretty reasonable. As someone who used to commute by train, I can also attest to the fact that it is significantly cheaper than a yearly season ticket from some popular London commuter destinations, so I can see this taking off in a really big way. You heard it here first.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post More Bike, less BS appeared first on Tech Trends.

Big Data becomes the future of sport and entertainment as IoT takes us closer to the action.

Firstly, congratulations to Welshman Geraint Thomas! 2018 winner of the worlds most famous cycle race, the Tour de France. Only the third British rider to win and the first Welshman, Da Iawn!

This year’s Tour de France has been a bit of a revelation to me. I love watching boring sport on TV, a long weekend of Cycling, Snooker or Golf are pretty much my idea of heaven. Yawn, I hear you say but I love the tedium and the laconic, quietly humorous but aged commentators and I love the fact it takes patience, knowledge and insight to enjoy the intricacies and strategies behind long-form competition.

However, I am of a certain age and the 21st century sees a different kind of audience that demands more information at a faster rate and on new platforms beyond broadcast TV. Innovators in their field, Dimension Data invited Tech Trends to the 13th stage of the Tour this year to see how they are changing the way the Tour is covered and how their groundbreaking data gathering and digital storytelling is engaging a new audience for this 115-year-old race.

The 21st century sees a different kind of audience that demands more information at a faster rate and on new platforms beyond broadcast TV
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There’s a limit to how many TV cameras can follow 176 riders as they fly through the French countryside at an average speed around 25mph. TV is not great at picking out your favorite rider or team for more than a few fleeting seconds per stage while the commentary jumps around, desperately trying to highlight moments of interest in the constantly shifting patterns and tactics of the many race teams. It wasn’t until after the day’s racing that some of the facts and figures came out and could be studied and discussed and any real insight into the sport enjoyed. Well no more. The owners of the Tour, A.S.O. saw the need to revitalise and modernise the race and after partnering with Dimension Data in 2015 have not looked back.

The owners of the Tour, A.S.O. saw the need to revitalise and modernise the race and after partnering with Dimension Data in 2015
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Thanks to a small GPS transmitter under the saddle of every Tour competitor, getting involved in the race in real time, following individual riders and understanding the larger race as a whole, as it unfolds is now a reality – and boy has it made a difference! Pulling the Tour de France into the 21st century has been down to the incredible work of a dedicated team at Dimension Data who designed and manage the data gathering infrastructure and use machine learning and predictive analysis to share the intricacies and unique stories of the Tour with fans around the world.

CTO of Dimension Data Australia, Debra Bordignon explained the evolution of the partnership. Now in the forth year of the partnership, Dimension Data plays a major role in the technology behind the Tour de France experience. To put this into context, the first year of the relationship saw Dimension Data handle data analytics for the race. By the second year, it also took control of the sensors on each bike. This allowed each bike to seamlessly transmit data via the cloud to the race nerve centre – Dimension Data’s big data truck. From there it went live to an ecosystem of broadcasters and sports commentators as well as to a dedicated team of data experts responsible for producing data visualisations for the Tour’s social media channels. Last year Dimension Data brought some new technologies into the mix in the form of predictive analytics and machine learning which we used to predict likely stage results, adding deeper insight and colour to the race commentary with the ultimate goal of increasing the engagement of cycling fans.

A small GPS transmitter under the saddle of every Tour competitor lets spectators get involved in the race in real time, following individual riders and understanding the race as it unfolds
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In a nutshell the rider’s under saddle sensor gathers GPS data, transmits it via the existing broadcast TV network to a nearby helicopter which then passes it onto the Data Truck that is the beating heart of the system and from where Dimension Data communicate with their global teams, work their data magic and share the details and stories of the race with the fans via on-screen TV graphics, online platforms and most importantly, social media.

Photo Nicolas Dormont 2018

From the Big Data Truck, Dimension Data communicate with their global teams and share the details and stories of the race via on-screen TV graphics, online platforms and most importantly - social media
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Photo Nicolas Dormont 2018

Third party data, including 3D terrain maps and weather information, is mixed in to add context and better inform the fans about what is happening and what might happen in the near future. Predictive analysis has really taken off in 2018 as fans want to see what is happening right now and how it might affect the overall race.

We take historical data, such as past performances of individual riders and previous race outcomes, and combine that with live analysis of race stages. This allowes us to make predictions of race scenarios, such as whether the peloton is likely to catch the breakaway or not, Explained Data Scientist Rob Webster.

Third party data, including 3D terrain maps and weather information, is mixed in to add context and better inform the fans about what is happening and what might happen in the near future
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In 2017 the system proved to be more accurate than even Dimension Data’s experts anticipated. Over the 21 stages of the race, it knotched up over 70% accuracy for predicting the Top 5 riders
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In 2017 the system proved to be more accurate than even Dimension Data’s experts anticipated. Over the 21 stages of the race, it knotched up over 70% accuracy for predicting the Top 5 riders. However, the objective was not to create a perfect model for race predictions for a live sporting event (with crashes, injuries and good old mother Nature to contend with) that would be impossible and detract from the exciting and dynamic nature of the race. Concluded Bordignon

The speed at which they are able to transmit, analyse the data, interpret it and share the stories the data tell is a matter of seconds which is vital to fan engagement. These days, a younger audience expects the information they want in their hands now and Dimension Data has helped the A.S.O. engage a new generation of fans aged between 18 and 35 which now makes up 73% of the Tour de France’s 6.5 million-strong social media audience. Data is opening up the sport to a new demographic that will hopefully follow and support the race well into the future. This shift from TV dependent audiences to younger, digital-savvy fans is clear in the figures.

Traditional Broadcast TV

• Viewers per stage: 12M+

Digital Channels

• Online Video Views: 71M
• Unique Website Visits: 12.6M
• Online Race Centre Visits: 9.1M
• Social Followers: 6.5M
• App Downloads: 1.4M

During this year’s Tour, we’ll be crunching over 150 million data points, meaning fans will have access to an incredible amount of information about their favourite riders, teams, and stages. If the breakaway group during Stage 5 of the Tour is set to outpace the peloton, we’ll know about it, and so will Tour de France supporters across digital and broadcast, as data visuals flow seamlessly between all channels and platforms. Explained Peter Gray, Senior Director of the Sports Practice & Technology at Dimension Data

During this year’s Tour, we’ll be crunching over 150 million data points, meaning fans will have access to an incredible amount of information about their favourite riders, teams, and stages
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The success of the A.S.O.’s partnership with Dimension Data and the new ground they have broken in sporting data gathering has seen the launch of Team Dimension Data which now includes the UK’s most exciting rider, Mark Cavendish and with the advanced data solutions at their disposal guiding their training and strategy I wouldn’t bet against them doing very well in the next few years.

Photo Nicolas Dormont 2018

For sporting companies, sponsors and entertainment providers around the world, there is a lot to learn from the advances seen in the Tour over the last few years. Customers and fans want to consume content on their own terms, in their own time, and on their platform of choice. The days of drip-feeding your audience tantalising snippets of information in an attempt to keep them engaged for longer are long gone.

A lot of successful businesses know the importance of making their customers’ experience as easy and enjoyable as possible but companies will be left behind if they don’t understand and cleverly utilise their own datasets to better drive, predict and augment consumer engagement. Tech Trends can see the day when sport and entertainment are dominated by data and the video feed comes second to the advanced, visual delivery of information and story-rich real-time data.

Tech Trends can see the day where sport and entertainment are dominated by data and the video feed comes second to the advanced, visual delivery of information and story-rich real-time data
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For companies looking to leverage Immersive technologies such as VR/AR/MR/XR Tech Trends offers a comprehensive range of Virtual Reality Consultancy Services.

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post Transforming Sports and Entertainment with Data appeared first on Tech Trends.