They claim, “COBI bicycle system enhances rider’s experience”
www.designboom.com/technology/smart-connected-cobi-bicycle-system-12-08-2014/
I think COBI is confusing the word “enhance” or to make better with “distract” or to divert attention from what you are doing (riding a bike).
Here are the COBI selling points:
- It has an “interchangeable 200g mount case…that holds the user’s smartphone on the handlebars”
- With the ‘COBI’ software (their quotes not mine) you can call friends,
- Listen to music,
- Check weather forecast.
- Other combined apps allow them (you?) to track fitness data such as heart-rate,
- cadence
- and calories, and
- observe real-time information like speed, time, distance and climb rate.
- another helpful addition is the modern navigation system that signals turn-by-turn directions, voice-overs, 2D & 3D views, bike lanes, popular routes and
- a buddy radar, which all aid the rider to travel easily between their destinations.
So… what does this thing that my iPhone does not already do? And why should I give them my money?
I encourage you to watch the video… I could not sit through it. It seems like this German guy just wants to do something… but even he is not sure what:
I agree that they need to find a better way to articulate what their product is and what it does, but from the video it doesn’t look insane. The Cobi integrates a head light, a tail light and turn indicators with an iPhone charger and a thumb controller. That last part looks valuable, as trying to control your phone with the touchscreen while riding is clearly dangerous.
How much money do they want for this? I doubt I would buy it but it could be good for other sorts of riders.