We are in a completely mobile world. Even though we aren’t physically in Sochi to watch the Olympics, through the use of our current technology, we are able to connect with those who are there to get updates on the games.

This year, Samsung released its Sochi 2014 Olympics Winter Games WOW app (Wireless Olympics Works) for Android Samsung devices. The idea behind this new app is to help you stay connected and track the 2014 Winter Olympics.

When you initially open the application, you will have the option to choose your favorite country, athlete and sport. There are 15 sports that are available for tracking, which include alpine skiing, bobsleigh, biathlon, cross-country, figure skating, curling, freestyle skating, ice hockey, luge, Nordic combined, short track, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboarding and speed skating.

Once you’ve chosen your favorite sport, the app will bring you to a home screen that will show you how many medals your country has accumulated, in addition to event schedules and more. There is also a community section that will allow the user to discuss the events with others using the app.

The invention of this app will allow people to track specific events and to learn more about the events they might not have been familiar with before.

Now, environmentally-friendly innovations and inventions are being put into play at this year’s Winter Games. For instance, the games will use energy-efficient LED spotlights that are key features to the “green” construction of the lighting technologies at the venues. The LED spotlights use only one tenth of the electricity used by filament lamps and half as much as luminescent lamps that last up to 50,000 hours.

The application of the LED lights was encouraged by international “green” standards as a progressive technology that illustrates a responsible attitude toward energy-saving and protecting the environment.

Furthermore, the city of Sochi, which is the home of this year’s Winter Games, has found success in the implementation of renewable energy sources, such as solar power. The idea of infusing solar technology has been applied to the new railway station in Adler, Russia, where solar-powered radiators and boilers, including water-based heating systems, were installed to service buildings. The solar power is part of the “green” alternative previously mentioned, because it will replace the traditional sources of energy that will enable annual savings of up to 30% on heating costs.

And, who can forget the Olympic gear? The Olympians already wear the most innovative uniforms; but, this year, the U.S. speed skating team will wear specifically-designed racing suits that were invented by Under Armour and prominent defense contractor Lockheed Martin. The idea behind the suits is that they will reduce friction and cut wind resistance by utilizing raised dots and pin striping, making them the fastest suits ever made.

Or, how about the U.S. bobsled team that is now utilizing the innovation of car maker BMW to improve their sled aerodynamics, making it lighter, tougher, more maneuverable and, ultimately, faster.

It’s easy to say that whether it’s a new mobile app, environmentally-friendly venue designs or creative Olympic uniforms and equipment, innovation continues to forge ahead with new technologies and inventions as the 2014 Winter Games get underway.

Copyright Davison 2014

Sources:

http://www.technobuffalo.com/2014/01/14/samsung-launches-wow-sochi-2014-olympic-winter-games-app/

http://www.sochi2014.com/en/news-sochi-2014-green-report-details-innovative-eco-technologies-used-in-construction-of-olympic-venues

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/technology-is-the-gold-standard-at-sochi-olympics-184205736-olympics.html

Images:

http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/nexusae0_Sochi2.png

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2014/01/16/skate1_wide-62d7783bd8864da4c6f8ede4af60fc15aab58b53-s40-c85.jpg

https://mediapool.bmwgroup.com/cache/P9/P90110591/P90110591-the-u-s-men-s-bobsled-team-will-race-a-new-bmw-designed-two-man-bobsled-at-this-weekend-s-fibt-world-600px.jpg

The post Olympic Innovation appeared first on Davison.

The Winter Games are full of adrenaline-pumping sports like bobsledding, freestyle skiing, snowboarding and curling (OK, maybe it’s not adrenaline pumping, but, it’s still fun to watch). Of course, there are many more events that are included in the Winter Olympics; but, we wanted to focus this blog on some new technology that will be infused into the hockey competition this year.

There are people all over the world that idolize their favorite professional hockey player and might even correlate them to a super hero. Well, during the 2014 Winter Olympics, select Olympic hockey players will be dressing the part of a super hero when they dawn state-of-the-art, 3D- scanned uniforms that are custom-fitted to their body parts.

Bauer, a hockey equipment manufacturer officially unveiled their new line of high-tech hockey equipment in December that’s called “Od1n.” The CEO of Bauer has called the gear the “concept car” of hockey equipment.

Hockey fans everywhere will be able to see the new gear in action at the Sochi Winter Games, because it will be worn by the NHL’s Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks/Team USA), Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks/Team Canada), Nicklas Backstrom (Washington Capitals/Team Sweden), and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers/Team Sweden).  Additionally, Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals/ Team Russia) and Claude Giroux (Philadelphia Flyers/Team Canada) are included in the group of six players, who worked hand-in-hand with Bauer in order to test the equipment.

A focal point of this innovative invention is the weight reduction of the equipment that should provide a significant on-ice advantage. Lundqvist will replace his traditional synthetic leather that is equipped with compression-molded foam that can be modified depending on the goalie’s style of play for the Od1n goalie pads that are much lighter. Even the skates are lighter, because of the carbon-composite blade holders that equal about 1,000 fewer pounds of lifted weight during a regulation game.

As is with any invention, designs are at the heart of these new technologies. By using the up-and-coming invention of 3D optical scanning, which is a technology that was borrowed from the automotive industry, Bauer was able to create protective base-layers suits that are molded to each player’s physique. The scans generated computerized models that were then used to create the custom equipment.

So, what’s the sticker price for this invention? The answer: a cool one million dollars.

Here are a few quick videos to give you a sneak peek at just how innovative this equipment really is!

Whether or not this new super hero-esque hockey equipment will hit the mass market is still up in the air; but, hockey fans everywhere can marvel at Bauer’s latest invention as they tune in to some quality competition during the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi.

Copyright Davison 2014

Sources:

http://mashable.com/2014/01/29/sochi-hockey-equipment/

Media:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ZAkAAYZ2M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7Nx_b_i_f8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D-XUsEN_N8

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1283077/bauer-hockey-unveils-the-future-of-hockey-equipment

The post The Future is Just in Time for the 2014 Winter Olympics appeared first on Davison.