PYEONGCHANG • Information technology powerhouse South Korea is set to show off its latest innovations as it welcomes visitors to what could well be the most high-tech Winter Olympics ever.
From self-driving shuttle buses and 5G broadcasts to artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled robots and virtual reality (VR) headsets offering a taste of winter sports, the host city of Pyeongchang has it all.
"We want to use the Olympics to showcase South Korea's strengths in IT," said Mr Kim Yong Chul, spokesman of Gangwon province, where Pyeongchang is located.
The installation of the next generation of 5G wireless network around the Olympic venues, for one, will allow broadcasting to be done at speeds that are 40 to 50 times faster than the current LTE network and, at the same time, offer more vivid and realistic images.
The 5G network can also deliver massive data required for VR and hologram services.
Bobsleighs will be fitted with "sinkview" cameras that allow viewers to follow athletes travelling at 150km per hour in real time, while fans of cross-country skiing can track their favourite athletes through GPS-enabled sensors.
Figure skating fans, meanwhile, will be able to "freeze" a video and get a 360-degree view of their favourite skater's signature pose.
This is made possible with surround cameras installed around the ice skating rink to capture athletes' every move.
Unprecedented virtual experiences also await visitors at the 5G Village and an ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Centre, both helmed by telco giant KT Corporation, a main sponsor of the Olympics.
At the ICT Centre, for instance, one can experience how it feels like to ride a bobsleigh while seated in a simulator and wearing VR headsets. One can also "snowboard" the same way.
AI robots provide information on the Olympics in various languages.
KT senior vice-president Park Jong Ho said there are more than 1,000 KT employees directly or indirectly involved in the Olympics, and they will help resolve issues that may crop up as soon as possible. "KT has played major roles in international sporting competitions and we are prepared to serve the Pyeongchang Olympics with our expertise and knowledge," he said.
"We also hope to introduce new technologies that are different from the previous Olympics."
