Invented by Jason Regler Company RB Concepts, Ltd. | Launch year 2011 | |
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Xylobands are wristbands that contain light-emitting diodes and radio frequency receivers. The lights inside the wristband can be controlled by a software program, which sends signals to the wristband, instructing it to light up or blink, for example. The RGB version has a white strap and can emit any colour on the spectrum. The single colour version is available in green, blue, yellow, red, pink and white. The first use of Xylobands on a large scale was on Coldplay's 2012 Mylo Xyloto tour. A Xyloband was given to each member of the audience, and as the concert played, the flashing of the bands was synchronized to the music. The inventor of the wristbands, Jason Regler, stated that he had the idea for the flashing wristbands while at a Coldplay concert, during the song "Fix You".
Contents
Technology
The wristbands themselves are constructed of a thick fabric with LEDs inside the fabric. A radio receiver is located within a plastic case on the band, and it receives wireless signals from a controller. These signals are sent either by a handheld TV remote styled controller, which has a range of 250 meters, or a controller which is hosted on a laptop computer linked to a radio transmitter, which can remotely control the bands from up to 900 meters away. The operator of the controller or laptop software may program all wristbands or only those of certain colors to flash on and off at specific intervals and specific moments. The wristbands are not intended to be lit outside of the concert venue, although there exist anecdotes of Xylobands "coming back to life" at seemingly random times.
Uses
The wristbands were given to each audience member at Coldplay's 2012 Mylo Xyloto tour. As the music played, the wristbands flashed with the music to create a colorful light show in the audience, which the Washington Post referred to as a "psychedelicatessen of moving, multicolored lights.". It was wrongly reported that Xylobands were costing the band approximately €490,000 per concert. Xylobands were also prominently featured in Coldplay's "Charlie Brown" music video. Santa Cruz-based electronic music event promotion company, VitalSC, are currently offering Xylobands as part of a VIP package for their upcoming annual Dubstep music event, Wobbleland.
Xylobands were also used by Cisco Systems during their Cisco Live London 2013 event. The bands were given out to attendees to wear during a keynote presentation. Attendees to the conference were also given Xylobands when attending a party on the final evening of the conference. Video of the solutions keynote speech uploaded to YouTube includes references and brief footage of the bands.
It is uncertain whether or not the bands will be used by other organizations, such as sports teams. Regler and Coldplay currently have an agreement which governs the design trademark on the bands, the patent, and the intellectual property rights to the Xylobands. Regler also stated that the band would not want the Xyloband experience diluted, and that it remained to be seen if they would be marketed to other organizations. Yet, Xylobands' website beckons prospective customers to "put your brand on a Xyloband!"
In early October 2013 and then again in 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks used Xylobands as a part of their banner raising ceremony to celebrate their recent Stanley Cup wins.
They were used in a concert in Abu Dhabi on the 31st of October 2013 while Al Gasmy, and Amr Diab where performing. It was a promotion to the telecom operator DU in UAE Also used during the Jay Z concert in Abu Dhabi on 1 November 2013 by DU. Audience members began throwing their lit bands into the air and across the heads of the crowd which, although unintended, created a fascinating visual display similar to fireless fireworks.
On October 29, 2014 Xylobands were given to each fan in attendance for the New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden. The Xylobands were used during introductions during a short performance by the Blue Man Group.
In April 2015, the New York Rangers used Xylobands as part of their pregame ceremony in the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs versus the Pittsburgh Penguins
Xylobands were launched by RB Concepts Ltd, a company set up by entrepreneur Clive Banks with inventor Jason Regler
In August 2015, a video was posted on the Xyloband YouTube page showing iPad controlling and the bands flashing in different colors. The Xylobands are used in Coldplay's tour in support of their seventh album, A Head Full of Dreams.
The Xylobands were also used in April 2016, as a 'concert element' during an on-stage music recording for the closure of Michael McIntyre's 'Big Show'.
In June 2016 the bands were used during the opening session of the #smaccDUB conference in Dublin, Ireland and during Coldplay's headline performance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival 2016.
The Cancer Research UK Shine Walk (25/26 September 2016) gave away Xylobands to its entrants. This fundraising walk is a half or full marathon through the streets of London overnight, and the bands fit with the theme of the event, to “shine” by wearing LEDs, EL wire, Glow Sticks and so on to light up the night. The bands were plan white were set up to light up at strategic points, such as mile markers, pit stops and other important points. They were also programmed to “go crazy” and flash multiple colours at the finish line.