We first heard about Blaze back in June of 2011. This handlebar-mounted laser cast a virtual bike in front of you to provide a signal to cars that you were in their blind spot. The system was developed by University of Brighton student Emily Brooke in the U.K. That was the last we heard of it, until now. In the nearly a year and a half that has passed Brooke has launched a company, developed a working prototype and launched a Kickstarter project to fund the creation of the first batch. Video after the jump
Tag: Laser
Light Up Your Fun Run
Registration is now open for the Electric Run Tour in San Diego. The 5k nighttime run series will be the first of a multi-city tour. What’s an Electric Run? The course will be lit with lights, lasers and music. Promoters say lasers will trigger sounds and changes in the music, and runners will have black light tunnels to run through. Continue reading Light Up Your Fun Run
Blaze a Virtual Bike in the Bike Lane
Back in 2009 there was LightLane, which provided a virtual bike cast as an image just ahead of you while you rode. Now there is Blaze, a handlebar-mounted laser that projects a personal bike lane marker. Developed by University of Brighton student Emily Brooke in the U.K., her concept could do what LightLane never did – that is actually make it to critical mass.
While Ms. Brooke still has yet to bring her product to market as well, it seems like a winner to use. The battery power Blaze essentially projects a bright green laser image, which is bright enough to be seen in daylight, of a bike onto the road ahead, warning drivers that you could be in their blind spot. Brooke reportedly consulted with road safety practitioners, Brighton & Hove City Council, the Brighton & Hove Bus Company as well as psychologists who specialize in driving.
Brooke’s idea reportedly won her a place on the Entrepreneurship Program at Babson College in Massachusetts, and hopefully this would be enough to make sure that future riders don’t win the “door prize.”
No Lasers for London Olympics
Sorry sci-fi fans there won’t be lasers at the 2012 London Olympics after all. This past August it had been announced that laser pistols – seriously laser pistols – would be used in the modern pentathlon. The event, which is actually a cross discipline sport, includes pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping and a 3km cross-country race. The event was first held at the 1912 Olympic Games, but it was conceived of by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games.
The idea behind the modern pentathlon was to simulate the experience of a 19th century cavalry soldier (and officer at that); someone who could ride a horse, fight with a pistol and sword and be able to swim and run. For the 2012 games the organizers had looked to add a bit of the future into the mix by using laser pistols for the shooting events.
However, these shouldn’t be confused with the Star Wars style blaster weapons, but rather have are much more likely laser pointers – so sorry also to anyone who hoped light sabers would eventually be used in the fencing. The lasers will still be used for the junior competitions, which are more reported to be more “environmentally friendly” that traditional pistols. The lasers were used this past August at the Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore.
So clearly it is just a matter of time unlike the Olympics gets lasers, but we’re glad they won’t be used in London. It would be like if James Bond used a laser – which he did in the film Moonraker and look how that turned out.
[Via Inside the Games: Modern pentathlon drops laser gun plan for London 2012]