Foosball, cycling and IoT.

What do foosball and the USA Cycling team have in common? More than you would imagine, and it all has to do with the Internet of Things.

The concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) is pretty straight-forward. Sensors capture data and send them to the cloud, where intelligent analysis transforms an unmanageable volume of raw data into usable information. Over time, all elements have gained maturity - the sensors, the network, the cloud, the software - offering real solutions with real value. All an organization really needs, is an idea to put the Internet of Things to work.

At IBM BusinessConnect 2016, we will be showcasing the opportunity of the Internet of Things through foosball. We added a couple of sensors to a soccer table set, connected to a small Raspberry Pi that is mounted underneath the table. The sensors detect whenever a player scores a goal and the data is sent to the cloud. A web frontend on the IBM Bluemix cloud platform allows players to log in, play against each other, follow other players’ results and see the players’ ranking.

The USA Cycling team uses an IoT application to support its training program. Sensors monitor the athlete’s heart rate and the energy that is produced  on the bike. Analysis of the data offers insight in how the athlete should manage his or her energy during a race. Obviously, this type of application also offers a lot of added value to the healthcare sector.

Would you like to learn more about the Internet of Things and build your own foosball table using IBM Bluemix and Raspberry Pi ?

Visit us at IBM BusinessConnect 2016