Gold Medal Coverage

If you can’t make it to France for the biggest sporting event of the year, rest assured that the Olympic Broadcasting Service is promising to deliver a cinematic experience into your home like never before for Paris 2024, thanks to innovative technologies. Organizers have unveiled plans to enhance viewer engagement through cutting-edge features, including augmented reality (AR) and VR.

These advancements aim to immerse spectators in the action, providing a more dynamic and personalized experience. With AR, fans can access real-time data and statistics overlaid on their screens, enriching their understanding of the competitions. VR technology will transport viewers into the heart of the games, offering 360-degree views of events and venues.

Additionally, advancements in broadcast techniques will allow for enhanced storytelling, capturing all the emotion and drama of the Olympic Games. These innovations signify a major step forward in sports broadcasting and reflect the Paris 2024 vision: ‘Games Wide Open’.

If the Shoe Fits

Nigerian soccer player William Troost-Ekong took to the field for the Africa Cup of Nations final against Ivory Coast in February, not only as captain of his team but also making a statement with his choice of footwear. Troost-Ekong sported the Scudetta, touted as the ‘world’s most eco-friendly’ soccer cleats, designed by British brand Sokito.

These vegan cleats are made from bio-based materials like corn waste, sugarcane, bamboo, castor beans and wood fibers. Weighing in at a mere 182 grams, they are not only the most sustainable, but also one of the lightest professional cleats available.

Troost-Ekong’s decision to wear the Scudetta aligns with his commitment to sustainability, having invested in Sokito as part of his efforts to promote eco-friendly practices in soccer. Stepping away from major apparel brands, he emphasizes the importance of making a positive impact on the environment through choices in sports gear. Unfortunately, while he was a winner in terms of sustainability and innovation, on the pitch his team lost 2–1.

Ice Cool

Sweden’s Vidde has unveiled its inaugural electric snowmobile, the Vidde Alfa. Drafted in collaboration with design powerhouse Pininfarina, the Alfa has been created to excel in arctic conditions and boasts a cutting-edge battery system with internal heating, capable of enduring temperatures as low as –39 degrees Celsius.

CEO Christian Lystrup expressed excitement over the launch, held at Sweden’s Icehotel, emphasizing the vehicle’s suitability for extreme climates like those found at the world-famous hotel in Jukkasjärvi. With a focus on performance and sustainability, Vidde aims to bridge the gap between fossil fuel and electric snowmobiles.

The pre-series will undergo rigorous testing with partners like SkiStar, Sveaskog and Skellefteå Kraft before production ramps up in late 2024.

AI Top 10

We asked Google’s Gemini to list the top 10 AI technologies in 2024. Here’s what it came back with:

1. Natural Language Generation: Allows computers to generate human-like text in response to a wide range of prompts and questions.

2. Speech Recognition: Means computers can convert spoken language into text.

3. Virtual Agents: Computer programs that simulate conversation with human users.

4. Decision Management: Technology that helps organizations make better decisions by automating the process of identifying and evaluating options.

5. Biometrics: Technology that uses biological data to identify individuals.

6. Machine Learning: A type of AI that allows computers to learn without being explicitly programmed.

7. Robotic Process Automation: Allows software robots to automate repetitive tasks.

8. Deep Learning: A type of machine learning that uses artificial neural networks to learn from data.

9. AI-optimized Hardware: Hardware that is specifically designed to run AI applications.

10. Computer Vision: A field of AI that enables computers to see and understand the world.