Manchester City show off smart scarf that tracks fan reactions
Manchester City want to know what makes their fans feel alive. On Wednesday, the Premier League soccer club said it was working with Cisco, the team's technology partner since 2019, to create a "connected scarf" that includes an "EmotiBit" sensor to track heart rate, temperature bodily and emotional state of its wearer during a match. According to the two organizations, the accessory will "bring fans of the game closer together than ever before," but it's unclear exactly how it will work.
Cisco says it recently completed a pilot program to test the device. The company and Manchester City have invited six "lifetime" fans to watch the team play. During this time, the scarf recorded data on 120 "moments of interest", providing the two organizations with "actionable information" to analyze how each fan in the room was feeling. “Using data, we will be able to understand fans more than ever before,” said Chintan Patel, Chief Technology Officer of Cisco UK and Ireland. "It offers the opportunity to be more inclusive and learn more about the role sport plays in all of our lives."
Cisco did not immediately respond to Engadget's request for more information on the device. The company plans to bring the connected scarf to Manchester City fans next season, but hasn't said whether the accessory will be something everyone can buy. It's no surprise to find that Cisco and Manchester have been working on a way to collect more data from fans. Over the past two decades, data analytics has changed the way many sports are played. It was only a matter of time before teams tried to do the same with the fan experience, but some may think organizations are going too far.
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Manchester City want to know what makes their fans feel alive. On Wednesday, the Premier League soccer club said it was working with Cisco, the team's technology partner since 2019, to create a "connected scarf" that includes an "EmotiBit" sensor to track heart rate, temperature bodily and emotional state of its wearer during a match. According to the two organizations, the accessory will "bring fans of the game closer together than ever before," but it's unclear exactly how it will work.
Cisco says it recently completed a pilot program to test the device. The company and Manchester City have invited six "lifetime" fans to watch the team play. During this time, the scarf recorded data on 120 "moments of interest", providing the two organizations with "actionable information" to analyze how each fan in the room was feeling. “Using data, we will be able to understand fans more than ever before,” said Chintan Patel, Chief Technology Officer of Cisco UK and Ireland. "It offers the opportunity to be more inclusive and learn more about the role sport plays in all of our lives."
Cisco did not immediately respond to Engadget's request for more information on the device. The company plans to bring the connected scarf to Manchester City fans next season, but hasn't said whether the accessory will be something everyone can buy. It's no surprise to find that Cisco and Manchester have been working on a way to collect more data from fans. Over the past two decades, data analytics has changed the way many sports are played. It was only a matter of time before teams tried to do the same with the fan experience, but some may think organizations are going too far.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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