The MBS Group

Can the Paralympics inspire tech advances everywhere?

I’ve been in the US this week, but still found the time to catch the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games. Just when you thought the summer of sport couldn’t get any better, the Paralympics have come along to make us gasp, cry and cheer all over again!

What struck me about the opening ceremony, apart from the visual spectacle and its obvious emotional impact, was the theme of technology and scientific advancement running through it. From Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking, the ceremony featured figures past and present who have come to represent discovery and development of all kinds. It was particularly interesting, though, that this all took place in front of disabled athletes, many of whom are set to compete using extraordinarily cutting-edge technologies, from wheelchairs to prosthetic limbs.

The ceremony shone a light on how technology and social or sporting pursuits are now deeply intertwined, not just in the Olympics and Paralympics but in all of our daily lives. In a more day-to-day sense, Facebook’s Open Graph platform has enabled innumerable fitness gadget users to post results, resulting in huge traffic increases for apps like Nike+ Running and RunKeeper. With technology and fitness becoming more intertwined every day, what do you think the next steps are in the world of sport and tech?

Let me know at moira@thembsgroup.co.uk, and have a great week-end.