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| The Industry Leaders : Contour, GoPro, Liquid Image |
Technology and Action Sports have been growing wildly over the last couple years. People are able to share their experiences with millions of other people and everyone can share a moment. That is what it is all about. A moment. Technology has almost caught up with life. You used to have had to be at an event to experience it. Then it evolved to being able to relive an event via recordings. Very quickly we are watching THAT change.
With the rapidly evolving technology that has married actions sports, I see a whole new experience on the horizon. GoPro, Contour and Liquid Image are all working on wi-fi technology with their cameras. These industry leaders have allowed everyone to relive and share amazing moments. From sky diving to nascar, skateboarding to dirt biking the dunes..... these tiny cameras can capture shots that we never knew existed a few years ago. With the introduction of wi-fi to these cameras, we can now check the image on a smart phone. Ok, so that's cool.....what's that really mean?
I see it as a step towards a new experience. Imagine being at a major action sport event. SnoCross, MotoCross, Nascar, The Olympics. Imagine being able to view what the athletes see via your smart phone. You choose the way you experience the event. Watch from the stands, ride along with a rider, check alternative angles from the track, or be live in the pits. I think that it will change the way that you watch these sports at the live event. I imagine all of this being accessible whether you are at the event or not. You could be on a train commuting home from work as you ride with Shawn White at the Winter X Games.....live!
While this technology is just coming out, it won't be long before you control your programming. The biggest question and challenge will be for the sponsors and advertisers... how do you commercialize when you no longer own the media channel? That will be one to watch.
