One of the slogans of the Beijing Games is “the High-tech Olympics,” and a range of highly advanced Olympic technology and equipment was unveiled to the public during Beijing Technology Week and the 10th China Beijing International High-tech Expo, both held in May 2007. Below is a taste of some of the technologies developed for the Games.

Instant Scanning with the Piercing “Electronic Eye”

The construction of Olympic venues and other Olympic-related buildings involves the latest technologies.

For the first time, face recognition technology will be widely used in Olympic venues at the 2008 Games, including the Olympic village and athlete mansions. The technology relies on the scanning of human bone structures for identification purposes. After scanning the athletes, the technology’s huge memory volume allows rapid judging time, opening doors within 0.01 seconds and closing them automatically three seconds later. The system is said to have a zero error rate, and is not affected by race, skin color, hair or glasses.

“Electronic Translator” Offers 24 Hour Service for Foreigners

During the 2008 Olympics, foreign athletes, referees, spectators and tourists needn’t be bothered by the language barrier. The “Electronic Translator” will provide visitors with a constant, convenient service. The translator will be available online, or via a mobile phone or call center, providing daily translations and competition information for foreigners.

The system can translate the latest information and reports about the Olympics simultaneously into multiple languages. Furthermore, advanced voice synthesis technology means the system’s voice will be on par with human pronunciation.

Race with Olympic Champions

Ordinary people experience the fruits of the high-tech Olympics in a virtual race with world dash champions on a 15-meter track.

During Beijing Technology Week, the public had a chance to engage with many Olympic-related interactive installations, including a virtual table tennis game and a virtual race with world dash champions on a 15-meter track. These facilities are designed for professional athletic training, but can also be utilized in fitness clubs for ordinary people’s daily exercise. All 28 Olympic events are represented in the virtual simulations, and the technology provides objective data to help improve athletic performance.

Scientific Training Methods Bring Benefits to Wider Society

Recent years have seen a lot of research into high-altitude physical training. In the simulated “low-oxygen area,” people will be able to experience what it is like to cycle or walk on a high plateau, and measure their endurance in an anoxic environment. The technology can be used for the training of professional athletes, mountaineers and high-altitude travelers. Since low-oxygen exercise can help improve cardiovascular functions, it is also an effective therapy in the treatment of certain patients and overweighed people.

Olympic Satellite

The model of the Olympic satellite, "Beijing-1".

“Beijing-1”, the first satellite ever produced exclusively for the Olympic Games, was on display during Beijing Technology Week. It is equipped with two sensors that are able to provide full color images of 4m resolution -- the highest available among domestic transmission-type satellites -- and multi-spectrum images of 32m resolution. The multi-spectrum sensor has a swath width of 600 kilometers -- the widest in the world among satellites capable of providing the same resolution. Launched in 2005, “Beijing-1” is expected to function for at least five years.

Fuel Cell Electric Car

For the first time in Olympic history, all vehicles servicing Olympic venues and the Olympic village will be fuel cell electric cars. With a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour, the electric vehicle can be used as a patrol car, ambulance and mini-truck.

Solar-powered Light

All street and floor lamps in the Olympic village will be powered by solar energy and wind power. Exquisite solar-powered street lighting will make the Olympic village a beautiful sight by night.

Water-absorbing Brick

Water-absorbing bricks designed for Olympic venues on display during Beijing Technology Week.

Fengtai Softball Palaestra, the softball venue for the Beijing Olympics, has been built using a new water-absorbing brick made of desert aeolian sand, which is cleaner and finer than the more commonly used river sand. The anti-skid brick can break the surface tension of water and quickly drain it into the ground. It is capable of supporting the weight of a fire engine.

Traffic System Simulation Software

A traffic simulation system will be employed during the Olympics that utilizes three-dimensional modeling and quantitative data to analyze and test various traffic organization options. The software can also simulate crowd evacuation in key traffic nodes, making it a valuable tool in running major events such as the Olympics.

Electronic Eyes for Visually Disabled People

The “satellite voice navigation service system” is specially designed for visually disabled people. Relying on GPS tracking and geographical information systems, it can provide information on the user’s current position and the surrounding area. The ultrasonic sensor can detect barriers, indicating distances to objects through different beep frequencies. The user can input a destination using Braille keys; the system will then repeat the destination back verbally. And an emergency function allows users to call for help using a single button. The durable, easy-to-recharge system will go on the market early next year. It will provide navigation services for visually disabled athletes, referees and audiences at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.