1. Olympic Inquiry By Nick

2. Contents Big Question New Technology What Does The technology Do How Does The Technology Effect People How Does It Effect the future How Can We Use it in everyday life How Does it Work What Does It Cost Why Is It Necessary What Technology Will London ConclusionBibliography

3. My Big Question In what way will the new technology from the Beijing Olympics effect the world in the future?

4. What is the new technology? Broadcasting TV can now be done in high definition for the first time. People can also watch the Games on their cell phones. LED’s (light-emitting diodes) were strung across the Bird’s Nest so the stadium could be a giant multimedia stage. Space age technology was used to control equipment during the Opening Ceremony They sent up weather rocket to stop rain before the opening ceremony. The whole Olympics stadium and sports areas were set up for wireless access for the reporters to use their laptops.

5. What does the new technology do? There were two different types of new technology – things for broadcasting – the high definition cameras, the computerized control systems, the amazing multimedia, the wireless access for journalists and technology that helped the sports people – like the fastest bikes, superlight basketball shoes, cooling vests, and running shoes that made the runners feel they were running on air. These things made it easier for the athletes.

6. How does the new technology affect people? Reporters were able to use their own laptops to wirelessly connect to the games and report back home. New technologies used to make shoes and sports equipment meant that athletes were wearing lighter, stronger and cooler than ever gear.

7. How will this affect the future? All the new ideas will be able to be massed produced for athletes everywhere. People will expect amazing new things at the next Olympics. It might make it harder and harder to design new things because such high standards were set at Beijing. We could use the rain rockets to make sure it doesn’t rain at the wrong times, like at the next rugby World cup.

8. How can we use the technology in everyday use? We can watch the news and other big events on our cell phones Runners and people who get really hot when exercising can use the Precool vest to stay more comfortable when exercising.

9. How does the new technology work? The high definition TV is computerized and digital. A special signal is transmitted which HD TV sets can pick up and use. Special HD cameras are necessary and they need to block out all natural light and replace it with artificial light.

10. What was the cost of these new technologies? It cost 400 million to develop and expand technology so that the amazing special effects worked at the opening ceremony. Big sports ware companies’ pump millions of dollars into product development that will help athletics go faster. They hope to get their money back because ordinary people will want their awesome stuff when they see sports stars wearing them.

11. Why is this new technology necessary? When all the countries want to better than each other, you need to have the latest timers and gear to help you do the best you can. Some races are so close that the high tech timers can time the winner down to 100th of a second. The fancy equipment helps people do their best, even with a lot of training, if you don’t have the best gear you don’t have a hope in winning. It costs a lot of money to train for the Olympics and the government and supporters want good value for their money. The New Zealand Government has put up to 70 million dollars into the Olympics and Great Britain put in $600 million dollars.

12. What new technologies will London have? They are planning to use technology for timing, scores and separating really close finishes like a photo finish. The technology will give information right back to officials and judges and spectators. They also plan to have digital web channels, transmit to cell phones and have people interacting with information. They have a motto that is “Games for a connected world”.

13. Conclusion In the future we will have clearer TVs and will be able to stop it raining on big events when we want with weather rockets. Our sports athletes will be able to train better with new technology and perform better than they could now. Ordinary people will have access to the new technology and be able to use the gear developed as well. But a downside will be that sports events like the Olympics will just keep getting dearer and dearer because athletes will need better and better equipment to be the best in the world.

14. Bibliography http://beijingolympic2008.wordpress.com/2007/09/29/beijing- olympic-broadcasters-to-use-new-technology/ http://newtech.aurum3.com/technology/beijing-olympics-opening- ceremony-using-space-technology/ http://www.liewcf.com/blog/archives/2008/08/high-technology-of- beijing-2008-olympics/ http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticle Basic&articleId=9030799 http://profy.com/2008/08/13/olympic-games-shape-how-people- use-technology/ http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/beijing-metro/ http://www.designtaxi.com/news.jsp?id=20576&monthview=0&month=8 &year=2008 http://www.incool.org/tag/product/ http://www.london2012.com/plans/technology/index.php http://www.stuff.co.nz/4664358a26500.html