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.

In this Wired article I delve deeply into new technology that promises to bring a whole new kind of enjoyment to reading.

French entrepreneur Christel Le Coq brings us “The Little Bird” Sex Toy which links to an app and electronic texts via bluetooth to provide sensory stimulation to enhance the experience.  “Où est la bibliothèque?” will never sound boring again…

As the story unfolds, the device vibrates accordingly, so that in steamier moments the rhythm ramps up but the user can also replay a sequence or adjust the vibrations according to their mood
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Besides erotic and racy novels, reading and sex rarely go hand-in-hand. Little Bird wants to change that.

Christel Le Coq – and yes, that’s her real name – is CEO and Founder of E.Sensory. She could perhaps be best described as an up-and-coming “sexpreneur” and her small start-up based in the French town of Brest – again, no joke – looks set to take our enjoyment of reading to a whole new level.

The firm has just officially launched the Little Bird, a smart sex toy which links with your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth. As you read, this teledildonics gadget translates the story, gestures and on-screen touches into stimulation, but in a much more nuanced and customisable way than your average vibrator.

“I love literature, and erotic literature, but I also love technology. That’s why I think it’s a good idea to combine power of words and the potential of connected devices. Inherently, erotic literature is what gives more sensations, and I like the idea of giving women a new way of reading and of having fun. It speaks to our first sensorial organ: the brain. With this innovative love-toy, words become caresses, literature turns into a true sensorial experience and the body becomes a part of the story!”

The Little Bird hardware is a friendly-looking gadget that comes in colours such as “Mojito Green” and wouldn’t look entirely out of place in an Apple shop. It links to the companion app via Bluetooth, and once you download it and make yourself comfortable, all that’s left to do is select an erotic text from the vibration library and start reading. Audiobook versions are also available.

The Little Bird hardware is a friendly-looking gadget that comes in colours such as Mojito Green and wouldn’t look out of place in an Apple shop
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As the story unfolds, the device vibrates accordingly, so that in steamier moments the rhythm ramps up but the user can also replay a sequence or adjust the vibrations according to their mood.

But what if you want to use it with your own favourite eBook?

“That’s a bit different,” explained Le Coq. “Each woman reads at her own speed, and at the moment we can’t use eye tracking or page turning features to detect this, since they vary according to screen size. So instead we put in some interactive elements such as text blurring, so that you have to touch the screen to reveal the paragraph, and that then triggers vibrations that go with that part of the story.”

Or if you’re not in the mood for reading, you can just play around with the remote and enjoy the 10 different settings. The next version of the app will also have features that allow for a vibrating message service, and the ability to give control of the device to a partner over both short and long distances.

But how exactly does one end up designing sex toys for a living? Le coq told us me it all came from an early love of books: “When I was six, something fantastic happened to me: I learned to read. At that moment my life changed, because I understood I would never be bored again. To me, reading meant knowledge, independence, and freedom. I remember reading this book called The Parfum by Patrick Suskind, and when he described the violet fragrance, I actually smelt it. That’s when I realised that words, had this power to not only make you cry, dream and laugh, but also to physically awaken your senses.”

It was only natural, then, for her to find herself working in publishing, where she started experimenting with new technologies such as QR codes, image recognition and even augmented reality to enhance the experience for readers. However, the French are nothing if not romantic, so it wasn’t an easy sell to convince them to read in those digital formats. The feel, touch and even the smell of the paper form part of the enjoyment, so how can a sterile tablet or smartphone ever hope to compete with that tactile, sensual experience?

“I began to ask myself how I could enhance the digital experience, and give this content a real physical dimension? How could we transform emotions into sensations?” Le Coq continued.

To develop these ideas she started her own company and soon landed on the concept of using erotic literature to showcase the potential of this new medium. Getting funding for the idea was far from easy, however, especially for a female entrepreneur.

“It’s the reason why I became a feminist entrepreneur,” she laughs. “In France I had to fight my way through, but in the US they know that the erotic market is huge, so we can just speak about business.”

Female masturbation is definitely still taboo no matter how many episodes of Sex and the City we watch, she feels. “Men, particularly in France, still want to believe that women are unable to reach pleasure and sexual satisfaction without them. They can’t admit that it’s exactly like male masturbation, which is – and this goes for both men and women – a very different pleasure to having sex with someone.”

If you’re not in the mood for reading, you can just play around with the remote and enjoy the 10 different settings
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She stresses that the potential for technology to enhance reading goes far beyond just adult content, however. While the B.Sensory side of her business will continue to develop the erotic literature and teledildonics products, the E.Sensory parent company is already exploring partnerships with Amazon’s Audible to develop audio-sensorial reading. She also has ideas around integrating music, video, and VR technology to create truly immersive reading experiences.

The team is also working with Spanish Research Centre Eurecat to explore how smart textiles could push this interactivity even further by collecting data such as heart rate and body temperature from users and reacting accordingly.

“We’re defining a palette of digital sensations – heat, pressure, vibrations – we could convey through those garments,” said Le Coq. “Just imagine if, with the same connected piece of clothing you could feel the rhythm of your favourite song on Spotify, James Bond’s heartbeat as you watch a movie, or the warmth of a fire as you read a passage of a book on your Kindle.”

The possibilities are literally titillating.

All the hard work does seem to be paying off, as B.Sensory were awarded the CES 2016 Innovation Award and by January already had pre-orders from more than twenty different countries. Le Coq is excited about building a global community of readers in many different languages (versions and content in Portuguese, German, Spanish and Italian are planned to launch in coming months) as the first batch of Little Birds start flying out to their eager customers this week.

You can place your own order on the site now for $129, and  users won’t have long to wait for an English version of the app, though, which is set to launch next month, with a library of content to follow in November. In the meantime, this could be a really good excuse to brush up on those rusty French skills. Sure puts a new spin on “où est la bibliothèque?”

An earlier ad for The Little Bird quipped that: “One Swallow Doesn’t Make a Summer, but a Little Bird Does.” Innuendos aside though, this could start a feminist revolution in publishing and tech, and make our holiday reading a whole lot more interesting in the process.

Sure puts a new spin on où est la bibliothèque
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This story was originally published in Wired

Love reading? Love sex? The @BSensory Little Bird vibrator combines the two https://t.co/sy1ONQMPBZ pic.twitter.com/2rNVBpWAvK

— Wired UK (@WiredUK) July 22, 2016

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 This Sexy Tech Gadget Will Change How you Look at Your Kindle appeared first on Tech Trends.