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Congratulations on bringing a slick product to the market, it's clearly been well led. But, I don't think your product addresses some of the critical aspects to address the problems for cyclists. As a product manager, cyclist & courier in London. Myself, I have a few points I'd like to raise:
Your product may distract, or cause cyclists to reduce their attention to your device, rather than the environment around them. I a few points I want to pick up on specifically:-
ISSUE: Indicator function - Having indicators on a bicycle isn't a solution. It may warn some motorists. I fear your encouraging cyclists to neglect maintaining their awareness of their environment around them. If you're indicating, some cyclists will fail to take to the appropriate observations around them. This leads to
Rear view?
ISSUE: Rear View camera function - Bikes rarely reverse. If a road use is using navigation, i'm assuming they have to tap or activate the camera. Rather than looking over their shoulder? Cyclists communicate their intentions to drivers through their actions. As in the case of slowing down or taking a turning the action of overlooking their shoulder is a visual queue.
QUESTION: Tilt Sensor - Other than accident monitoring, and potentially security. How sensitive is this and how does it alert 3rd parties?
QUESTION: How does the device attach to the bike to prevent tampering or removal when unattended? How is it recharged?
QUESTION: Has BEAKOR been approved or endorsed by a non-commercial cycling body, or association?
Seperately, your video is very well produce but it doesn't actually show BEAKOR being used in the scenarios you quote at the beginning of the video. 'Most accidents happen at cross roads' doesn't seem to match the content of the video. Also, BEAKOR is not demonstrated in a congested environment where it would be of most use. A quiet street doesn't engage the product.
@redpuppy
Hi David! Thank you very much for your time and message.
I appreciate your concern about the distractions the new features could bring. However, as a cyclist myself, I do not agree at all with you. Let me please here answer you.
ISSUE 1
Regards to your first issue raised, would you say turning indicators and mirrors on motorcycles (or even cars) would add distractions? Obviously, not.
They improve greatly safety and even more when thanks to BEAKOR ergonomic aspect and user experience/ design, it is completely intuitive and easy to use indicators.
Like on motorcycles, a single push from the thumb would be enough to trigger indicators or to stop them. No need to take your sight out of the road.
Concerning the mirror view on the phone.
You are right, turning the head to check what is going on behind could be an easy move. But quite dangerous honestly.
It takes time to turn the head to really check properly what is behind. Time where you are not completely focus on where you are going, and even more time consuming to react (if you even succeed to identify it) to a danger coming from the front while turning your head towards the back.
You would find I am sure, easier and quicker to look up and down rather completely turning around to check behind you. Your peripheral sight would even allow you to stay more aware of whats coming up.
Nonetheless, you can ask all cyclists, you would see that turning the head is not enough to check behind. You need to rotate your torso and even release one of the hand from the handlebars. All cyclists, rookie or confirmed, would tell you that it creates unbalances and hence even greater risks.
So, indeed, we do think it is a great enhancement to have a mirror view video on the handlebars thanks to the smartphone, and we do not think it creates more distractions. It reduces greatly risks.
ISSUE 2
You are right, bikes rarely reverse and do not really need like cars, a rear camera for parking.
It is why the mirror video function has been created for different purposes. The main purposes are:
- checking quickly and safely (cf above) if a danger from the back is raising
- checking the environment behind when about to make a direction move
- to use it as a dash cam for security, insurance or legal reasons
- to use it as an action cam for memorable moments
You make a point when how to use it. Mobile phones screens do not allow much information at the same time on the same screen. It is why the mirror view could be used in a landscape mode (allowing a bigger video screen size) and also could allow a split screen between the mirror feed and any navigation screen. I agree, it wouldn't let to much size to check probably any of the two. But it has the merit to exist if some would like to use it. We thought also about developing the navigation in transparency with the mirror video feed. Not explored yet.
As for the brake light, I am sorry, I do not understand your point. The brake light is triggered automatically thanks to the G force Sensor analysing the speed slow down. There is here no need for the cyclist to do anything, and it would warn hence automatically the following vehicles of its significative slow down and potential futur intentions.
Where I agree with you is that, with all this technology, it is still important and we recommend it, to be vigilant and to have also a direct visual. Like we all learnt at the car or moto driving school, even if we check the mirrors, it is important and worth also to check the blind spots and turning the head for a double check.
QUESTION 1
The Tilt/ G-Force sensor as 3 uses:
- smart alarm, detecting real 2/3D moves and not just a winding
- automated brake lights, identifying a significant slow down
- smart accident alert system, identifying you had an accident and that you did not pull up the bike within a certain customisable time frame. Alert messages are sent through Text/Email or WhatsApp to pre indicated Emergency contacts. It will send your position automatically to them and video if you choose it.
QUESTION 2
Only mount fixations remain on the bike at all time (and the remote control). BEAKOR front and back modules attach and detach very easily and quickly from its specifically designed mount fixations in order to remove them from the bike each time you lock it in the streets. When removed, the front and back modules can clamp facing each other and be stored in a very nice and ergonomic case (like sunglasses cases).
The front and back modules are rechargeable through Micro USB.
The remote control, staying all the time on the bike, embeds a non rechargeable battery to change when flat out.
QUESTION 3
We are working on it.
As for the video, you are right. It is a choice we made not to show too much the product. We wanted to sell more a feeling, an atmosphere, an ambiance and the features it provides. We wanted people to be able to identify themselves. I acknowledge it could be presumptuous not being an established well known brand, but it could also trigger curiosity and interest.
The survey at the beginning is to remind people, cycling could be really dangerous and to show them that their visibility is one of the major factor in accidents.
It is right, locations shot were not engaging for the product. We could have shown junctions and other situations. On the other side, I am sure you would agree that showing accidents, scare people would not really help sell the product. And we had to make a choice as we did not want to have a too long video. We had to remove scenes.
I hope I will have answered to your questions and concerns.
Please do not hesitate whether you would have any further questions.
Best regards
Can you make it on glasses ? You want to enhance safety but if the user has to look at his smartphone while riding... Look at this project, it can be inspiring : https://www.kickstarter.com/proj...
@valdecarpentrie Hi Valentin - avoiding looking at your smartphone might be interesting indeed. However, not sure this product provides the same level of functionalities BEAKOR does. Indeed, BEAKOR not only help you SEE others (rear cam view and strong headlamp), BUT on the top of it and the product you indicated to me, it provides to BE SEEN functionalities by others eg: Front&Back blinkers, anti-blind spot, LED and laser turning indicators, brake lights...No other products on the markets provide as much functionalities AND for 249$
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@beakorinfo Yes, I think the BE SEE (turn right/left, brake, etc) functionalities are the best asset of your tool indeed !
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Kind of ironic that none of them are wearing helmets
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