Wicler
Wicler is the first portable music and telephony device designed specifically for the bicycle.
The use of the bicycle as a means of transportation is going to increase.
In the EU there are 175 million bicycles, with annual sales of 20 million. Worlwide there are 265 million people that own one or more bicyles. A significant percentage of these owners use their bikes for recreation/ in their leisure time. The use of the bicycle as a means of transportation is going to increase significantly due to the following reasons:
- Access restrictions and tolls for cars in big cities
- A bid for the bicycle lane and for clean means of transport in the main cities around the world.
- Green conscience
- Unrelentless increase in energy prices
- Search for a healthier lifestyle
A must-have device for the cyclist
- The current trend of making the use of the car more difficult and expensive in the city centers is encouraging an increased use of bicyles as a means of transportation.
- This user profile is used to having several devices in his/her car that are not available on a bike.
- The new electronic device, Wicler, integrates several of these accessories and allows listening to FM radio stations, reproducing music in mp3 format and the use of a phone through bluetooth technology.
- Furthermore, road safety regulations in many countries forbid the use of earphones, and the only system allowed for speaking on the phone is the handsfree one.
- Wicler increases the cyclists´s road safety, since it has the necessary elements such as powerful speakers and microphone for successful use within the level of noise in a city.
- Other safety elements included are an electronic honk and a light to see and be seen in dark environments. Wicler is ergonomic, portable and robust, as well as weather-proof.
- Wicler is a portable entertainment device that adjusts to the handle of the bicycle and which may also be used in other environments: the car, to listen to music with friends
Background
- To increase the driver´s road safety is one of the main objectives of the government, the industry and, above all, the drivers themselves. There is a clear trend towards a greater regulation and creating awareness in this area to decrease the number of accidents.
- Distractions due to the use of earphones or of our hands when talking on a mobile phone are plenty and dangerous. A great deal of electronic devices have become necessary elements to increase our road safety when travelling by car (car handsfree, GPS, distance controllers, ... ).
- However, there is no electronic device specially designed to increase the cyclist´s road safety when listening to music or talking on the mobile phone.
- Regulations: the use of earphones while driving any vehicle is forbidden, much the same as occupying one´s hands to talk on the phone, i.e. the only legal solution is to use handsfree systems.
- All cyclist magazines and forums recommend and constantly encourage the "non-use of earphones" and to "not speak on your hand-held mobile" while riding your bike.
Our technology patented
Patents PCT/ES2006/000662 and PCT/ES2006/000629 requested through the PCT procedure in November 2006 have received a favourable report from the examiner in August 2007 and cover the electronic device, including any type of handsfree device, and the fixing on the bicycle.