Banning Wearable Cameras at Future Events
- Updated: November 1, 2014
I came across something that really made me think about where we are with technology and how it might affect the future of our sport.
It appears that the FIM (Federation of International Motorcycling) announced a ban on the use of all rider-wearable on-board cameras. If this new ban is indeed true, we won’t be seeing helmet cam footage from the upcoming AMA Supercross Series as well as all other FIM sanctioned events. And this new ban could eventually spill over into other forms of offroad racing including ATV and UTV racing.
After researching this I found that the announcement may or may not have come in the wake of skier Michael Schumacher’s injury, which was reported by a well-renowned F1 photojournalist, Jean Louis Moncet, who initially suggested that the GoPro mounted on his helmet had a lot to do with Michael’s injury. Interestingly enough, Moncet has since backtracked his statement, saying that it was just an opinion he had. And, interestingly enough, the official announcement that seems to have banned all wearable on-board cameras has since been removed from their site.
As someone that’s very interested in how news and events are covered in this ever-changing modern-day world, and how quick things seem to change as modern-day technology advances almost daily, I find this official ban, (that seems to have quickly become unofficial to be a very interesting topic.
Before I get into a few of my theories and predictions, and hopefully you’ll chime in with yours, take a look at this footage from James Stewart’s helmet-mounted GoPro collected from his near last-to-first charge at the 2014 Supercross in Toronto. It’s phenominal video, perhaps the best footage collected that night, when Bubba moved to the second on the all-time Supercross win-list. And consider that the camera used costs only $300. Might I add, the camera used is already outdated. There’s now an ultra-hd 4k version available with improved wireless streaming ability. You’ve probably already viewed this masterpiece, but check it out again for fun, and by all means watch it full screen in 1080p to appreciate where we’re at and where we might be headed with these amazing little cameras.
Now that I’ve perhaps reminded you of how incredible these cheap plastic wearable cameras are, I wonder if banning these things in the name of “safety reasons” is more of a diversion. I mean seriously, have you ever heard of an instance where a helmet cam actually caused an injury? Come on, it’s not made of steal, it’s a cheap piece of light-weight plastic that’s stuck on the visor or helmet. In the event of a crash it just breaks off.
ATV Scene.com was first to stream live audio and later live video, with this we encountered some concern from the powers-that-be at the ATV Nationals, and that was well over a decade ago with very sub-par technology compared to today’s. And remembering the challenges that went along with those early innovative fun days of never-been-done-before race-coverage that caused a bit of a disturbance to the norm, I believe that series promoters and investors are looking closer at protecting their product, and predict that they just might want to secure complete control of all footage collected from their events. Meanwhile, take a look at how fast and genius the people at GoPro have been when it comes to sponsorships and using social networks to strategically market their products. What’s next for the movers and shakers at GoPro, and competing camera makers? Could they be working on creating an online channel that competes with television and allows viewers to watch live footage from their rider of choice?
Am I over-thinking the near future or have cameras become so advanced that they’re soon to become a big threat to the event’s income-making-ability? Rider, spectator or media professional alike, is footage collected from your personal camera soon to be considered an unauthorized digital transmission or reproduction and therefore seized at the front gate of future events? Heavy stuff to consider, but isn’t it a fun time to be alive and witness this new found territory where the next innovative game-changer is just around the corner?
What are you’re thoughts and predictions? Will we someday see an on-board camera ban? Or do you predict the opposite in the future, where wearable cameras are more encouraged, perhaps even mandatory?
