I figured yuppies have to be (or have to pretend to be) up to date with new upcoming technology so I thought I might share this with you. I just finished my marketing plan on the Copenhagen Wheel and did such a good job I pretty much convinced myself that I have got to buy this wheel (and a bicycle to attach it to).
Basically this wheel helps propel riders when they need an extra boost. (For example, when going up a hill - not that we have hills in Arizona...) The technology hidden within the hub of the wheel stores energy created from pedaling and braking until the rider needs it. The wheel also communicates with a smartphone interface (so far only iPhones & droid based phones, unfortunately no BlackBerrys) and displays pollution levels, traffic congestion and road conditions in real time. You can also lock your bike with your phone! And if someone attempts to steal it you'll get a text message immediately so you can chase the thief down.
Not only does it do all that but it helps improve the city as well. The wheel and phone allow riders to share the information collected from their rides with city planners. With the data collected from Copenhagen Wheel users, cities can "cross analyze different types of environmental data on a scale that has never before been achieved" and "build a more detailed understanding of the impact of transportation on a city's infrastructure." Ok, I'm starting to sound like a salesperson so I'll stop. But I do think that this is a great product and I can't wait to see how it performs on the market!
Check it out yourself if you're interested enough: The Copenhagen Wheel
