See.Sense Dublin Trial (possible cheap lights)

g0g

Saw this on my Facebook feed so thought I'd share. It's legitimate. Commuters can register and potentially be selected to join the trial and get a € 90 light for € 20 in return for sharing data as it links to smart phone:

LINK

BLURB

Smart Dublin and See.Sense, a winner of the Smart Dublin Cycle Challenge have partnered on an innovative project to use crowdsourced data from cyclists to help get more people on their bikes.

Data from the trial will be shared with the Smart Dublin initiative. This data will help the city identify and prioritise investments in cycling infrastructure and policies. This will allow cycling to integrate fully as an efficient and sustainable transport alternative to the car and provide the opportunity to significantly boost the number of cyclists across the city.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Register your interest by completing this short survey. The survey is used to ensure that we have a good representation of cyclists across the city.

HOW THE TRIAL WORKS

The selected participants will be able to purchase a Smart Dublin branded ICON light at a heavily subsidised price of €20 (RRP €90).

Potential participants will be asked to complete a survey. There are 500 lights available for the trial. This survey is used to ensure that we have a good representative pool of cyclists across the city.

Please note these lights are specifically designed for the trial. They will only function when paired with an android phone.

The lights can be collected from predefined collection points around the city.

The trial will run from the 14th of August until November.

The anonymised and aggregated data collected during this time will be shared with your city.

The data collected will be used to help inform the city about the safety and infrastructure issues facing cyclists. This will in turn be used to help influence policy decisions regarding cycling.

Chuchote

Sounds good. Loadsa people have signed up, and See.Sense say they're currently "selecting participants".

nak

I signed up a few weeks ago and no response.

Annie get your Run

I got an email from them this evening to say I"d been selected, have ordered my 20e light delighted with that.

All My Stars Aligned

Ordered mine there, happy days!

cython

Ditto. When ordering the light first my code only took 20 quid off the price, as opposed to reducing it to 20 euro, but when I emailed them to query it they promptly responded that there had been a "hiccup" and that all codes have been corrected since.

Alek

In T&C you can read that the light will operate at minimum intensity if not connected to the app.

Would it be at all useful at this setting?

Do they plan to get rid of this limitation once the trial runs out? Is there a finish date?

2 Wheels Good

Alek wrote: »

In T&C you can read that the light will operate at minimum intensity if not connected to the app.

Would it be at all useful at this setting?

Do they plan to get rid of this limitation once the trial runs out? Is there a finish date?

I run mine at 10% most of the time. I'd probably only up the % if it was dark and wet

Annie get your Run

cython wrote: »

Ditto. When ordering the light first my code only took 20 quid off the price, as opposed to reducing it to 20 euro, but when I emailed them to query it they promptly responded that there had been a "hiccup" and that all codes have been corrected since.

Ditto

jon1981

Me too!

Alek

I think I'll pass. One more thing to think/care of... With my current Blackburn single LED 2xAA tail light, I get a few months use out of a set of batteries...

Anyone wants the code?

g0g

Alek wrote: »

I think I'll pass. One more thing to think/care of... With my current Blackburn single LED 2xAA tail light, I get a few months use out of a set of batteries...

Anyone wants the code?

Hi Alek, if not gone yet I'd take it. I registered but never got one.

Pinch Flat

Registered twice and never heard back from them

Alek

g0g wrote: »

Hi Alek, if not gone yet I'd take it. I registered but never got one.

PM sent

buffalo

I ordered two new lights ahead of winter for the missus and me Saturday, then late yesterday we get these emails. :rolleyes: Thankfully only front lights in the order and these are rear lights, looking forward to trying them out.

Does anyone know what data exactly DCC get from this?

davidsatelle100

No email so if anyone has one they don't want let me know

Thanks

Annie get your Run

buffalo wrote: »

I ordered two new lights ahead of winter for the missus and me Saturday, then late yesterday we get these emails. :rolleyes: Thankfully only front lights in the order and these are rear lights, looking forward to trying them out.

Does anyone know what data exactly DCC get from this?

This is what it says in the T&C's

We collect information whenever you use your See.Sense ICON light in conjunction with the official See.Sense ICON application. We collect data pertaining to your environment when cycling, as well as your behaviour as you respond to this environment. This includes information that can help us to detect where accidents/near miss events occur and specific locations where potholes may form. We do not consider this information to be personal data. The See.Sense phone application gives the user the option to set a privacy zone within which no data will be collected. It is recommended that the user include their home within their privacy zone as this will ensure that a home address cannot be identified. If we link together other information in a way that renders this data individually identifiable, we will treat the combined information as personal information and will treat it as laid out below. We will also collect some personal information in the signing up process, such as name, email address and demographic data.

uck51js9zml2yt

What's stopping anyone not transmitting data from their phone?

jon1981

Once the trial ends will it function normally when not paired with the phone?

plodder

jon1981 wrote: »

Once the trial ends will it function normally when not paired with the phone?

Was wondering that too. I don't think I'd be interested unless it functions normally afterwards - not that I'm likely to be offered anyway as I only registered the other day.

Adeline Icy Ostrich wrote:

What's stopping anyone not transmitting data from their phone?

I'd imagine the light knows when it is connected to "home" and you would need a data connection enabled.

dom_1000

I bought one of these lights, and have to pick them up at the civic offices.
Does anyone know the dates of when they are released?

g0g

dom_1000 wrote: »

I bought one of these lights, and have to pick them up at the civic offices.
Does anyone know the dates of when they are released?

19/09. I called yesterday and he said they're gonna email people to let then know.

buffalo

dom_1000 wrote: »

I bought one of these lights, and have to pick them up at the civic offices.
Does anyone know the dates of when they are released?

I got an email with a subject line that started "Important Information - Please read", that included the following:

We are pleased to advise that your See.Sense ICON Dublin Trial light will be available for collection from Tuesday 19th of September, from your preferred collection point selected at checkout.
...
When your light is ready for collection we will send you another email to confirm your collection point details.

(their emphasis)

Now I'm not saying that you don't read your emails, but... :pac::p

Chuchote

Adeline Icy Ostrich wrote: »

What's stopping anyone not transmitting data from their phone?

If you signed up on an agreement that you would transmit information (during the trial) it would be dishonest not to. Afterwards you can choose when to use the app and when not to, or to delete the app altogether.
I use one of these lights & have just set up the crash report mode. It works when the app is present on the phone & when Bluetooth is switched on. I keep Bluetooth off normally.
(I only use the ICON light on my 'good' bike, I don't switch it to my functional old crock for shopping & with in town etc. If I were in the trial I would of course use it on both bikes.)
They're the best back lights I've ever had, with endless battery life and automatic switch-off when the bike is still for a while and a flashing pattern that changes when you slow for traffic lights, attracting drivers' attention. I haven't tried the front lights.
If they install a SigFox tracker they will be the best lights in the world.

Pinch Flat

I got picked in the end, so pitched up the the Docklands offices the other morning to pick it up. No sign of them there yet there and no email, so will sit tight.

Edit - just scrolled down the email I got. Ready for collection 19th September

coach22

Just collected my light from the docklands office. Thanks OP. Looking forward to using it

Annie get your Run

Me too, looking forward to trying it out now.

PaulieC

Was there a secret handshake to get these lights ? I filled in the survey, but heard nothing back, not even an acknowledgement. Not really a big thing anyway, I thought they were the lights with the cameras built in, but I realise now that they are not.

Chuchote

PaulieC wrote: »

Was there a secret handshake to get these lights ? I filled in the survey, but heard nothing back, not even an acknowledgement. Not really a big thing anyway, I thought they were the lights with the cameras built in, but I realise now that they are not.

Me too, but I reckoned that I'm probably not enough of a commuter for the trial. Can't remember what the initial survey said - did they ask your location, for instance? Maybe they're looking for people in a specific geographical pattern?

arse_jackeen

Just picked mine up from Docklands building.

Chuchote

Weepsie wrote: »

Did you check your junk mail? Mine kept going there.

Damn, I empty mine regularly! Never occurred to me to check for it because I've talked to See.Sense's help staff on email before.

PaulieC

Checked the junk mail, nothing there. Maybe, as was suggested, my commute wasn't in the right area, or long or interesting enough.

Annie get your Run

PaulieC wrote: »

Checked the junk mail, nothing there. Maybe, as was suggested, my commute wasn't in the right area, or long or interesting enough.

I can't remember now what I said in the survey :pac::pac:. I'm sure it was very close to the truth though....

My phone is not too happy with the new light though as it's already drained the battery and I haven't actually gone anywhere yet :eek:

papu

Picked up my light there, I was hoping it had a GPS onboard but it seems location is determined from your phone, so you need to have that with you.

Curious to see what kind of reporting and tracking they will bring out to the app once all the lights have been distributed.

The thing is Super bright though! Lots of cool flashing patterns, and its rechargeable which is great.

mr spuckler

i've already ordered my rack mount for mine, yet to pick it up though! will try to get down in the morning.

Bambaata

Did ye get email after purchase to confirm ready for collection at the collection point chosen??

buffalo

Bambaata wrote: »

Did ye get email after purchase to confirm ready for collection at the collection point chosen??

The last email I got was 'See.Sense Dublin Data Trial - Collecting Your Light & App Download Details'.

They're fierce bright, aren't they? I turned the intensity down to 10%, that seems plenty.

Smokeyskelton

Got mine today. Is it just me, or is it significantly more ugly than the normal See.Sense Icon / Icon+?

The elasticated mounting wrap is light blue, as is the rubber sealant (rather than black and red respectively). The body is a lightish grey (as opposed to the usual black).

Jnealon

Noticed that myself, it's probably the DCC edition and the colours reflect their branding

Chuchote

Smokeyskelton wrote: »

Got mine today. Is it just me, or is it significantly more ugly than the normal See.Sense Icon / Icon+?

The elasticated mounting wrap is light blue, as is the rubber sealant (rather than black and red respectively). The body is a lightish grey (as opposed to the usual black).

Photo?

The one thing I really dislike about the See.Sense Icon is that it doesn't have a proper mounting, just a rubber band.

Chuchote

Trouble with a rubber band is that it's easy for you to put it on - and equally easy for a thief to take it off, if you forget to bring it with you when you leave your bike.

Not that this isn't so with plenty of other mounts, but it's visibly so with the rubber band.

Smokeyskelton

Chuchote wrote: »

Photo?

Hope pictures appear, I've never posted a picture from my mobile before.

Chuchote

Putting image tags around the link addresses

cython

Picked up mine yesterday from Woodquay and yeah, have to agree that there's a very Dublin Bikes/DCC colour scheme about it, but having said that I'm not going to complain given the massive differential in price between what I paid and the RRP. As another poster said though, the impact to my phone battery of the GPS recording is appreciable, so hopefully they lift that requirement and allow it to function normally when the data collection phase is done. My Edge 520 on bluetooth has nowhere near the same impact, for example.

Peterx

cython wrote: »

Picked up mine yesterday from Woodquay and yeah, have to agree that there's a very Dublin Bikes/DCC colour scheme about it, but having said that I'm not going to complain given the massive differential in price between what I paid and the RRP. As another poster said though, the impact to my phone battery of the GPS recording is appreciable, so hopefully they lift that requirement and allow it to function normally when the data collection phase is done. My Edge 520 on bluetooth has nowhere near the same impact, for example.

The explainer video on see.sense said it should be about 5% battery drain per hour. That was optimistic by the sounds of it?

coach22

Mine seems to work fine without being connected to the app. I can use the app to set the brightness and it seems to work at that level then without being connected

Annie get your Run

Peterx wrote: »

The explainer video on see.sense said it should be about 5% battery drain per hour. That was optimistic by the sounds of it?

I think mine had drained about 10% this morning over 55 mins but having said that I'm badly in need of a new battery for my phone!

I hadn't even noticed the colour I did notice however that my lovely new and impossible to miss light had zero impact on the number of close passes either yesterday evening or this morning .

magicbastarder

there's two way comms between the phone and the light, i guess? i would guess that could explain the battery drain - GPS tracking on its own has a barely noticeable effect on my phone, such as when i'm using it with strava.

jon1981

The test app they make you download is abit sh*t. Anyone manage to test the SMS works ?

cython

jon1981 wrote: »

The test app they make you download is abit sh*t. Anyone manage to test the SMS works ?

Are you on android or iPhone? I've android myself, and while I now get a message about not being able to check battery level (haven't bothered testing the crash thing), the test app is a lot more polished than the "mainstream" one that looks like a bad iOS port, and it actually feels like a native app now.

Annie get your Run

jon1981 wrote: »

The test app they make you download is abit sh*t. Anyone manage to test the SMS works ?

Yes I used the 'test' button on the app and the person got a text along with a link to my location.

There's not much in the app really that I can see except being able to change the light settings on it, I thought I might be able to see the info it's sending to wherever it's going!

I just had a look back to remember what information they are actually collecting

What is my light measuring?

The light is measuring characteristics about the road conditions such as location and formation of potholes, situational information such as near-miss events, and also how often cyclists use roads, cycle lanes and greenways. In addition, See Sense ICON can also collect data about theft and crash incidents.

I wonder what they mean by 'near miss' events and how they know if/when that happens.