Xyloband
Wirelessly controlled LED wristband for audience participation.
A Xyloband is a wristband fitted with light-emitting diodes and a radio frequency receiver, mainly used in live entertainment. It was created by RB Concepts Ltd, a company founded by entrepreneur Clive Banks and inventor Jason Regler. A software program controls the lights by sending signals that tell the wristband to light up or blink. Single-color versions come in green, blue, yellow, red, pink, and white.
The wristbands are made from thick fabric or biodegradable plastic, with LEDs embedded inside the material. A plastic case on the band holds a radio receiver that picks up wireless signals from a controller. The controller can be a handheld device shaped like a TV remote, with a range of 250 meters, or a laptop computer linked to a radio transmitter, which can control the wristbands from up to 300 meters away. The operator can program all wristbands or only those of certain colors to flash on and off at specific times. The wristbands are not meant to be used outside the concert venue and have a short battery life, though newer models can be recharged. There are stories of Xylobands unexpectedly lighting up at random moments.
The first large-scale use of Xylobands was on British rock band Coldplay's 2011 Mylo Xyloto Tour. Each audience member received a wristband, and during the concert, the flashing synchronized with the music. Regler said he got the idea for the product at a Coldplay concert while they performed "Fix You." Regler and the band have an agreement covering the design trademark, patent, and intellectual property rights.
For the Mylo Xyloto Tour, bassist Guy Berryman noted in the Live 2012 documentary that there were early problems implementing the wristbands during rehearsals, but they eventually worked well. The Washington Post described the audience's lights as a "psychedelicatessen of moving, multicolored lights." It was incorrectly reported that the wristbands cost the band about €490,000 per concert. Xylobands also appeared in Coldplay's "Charlie Brown" music video.
Coldplay continued working with Regler for the A Head Full of Dreams Tour, and the wristbands were used during their headline set on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival 2016.
For the Music of the Spheres World Tour, Xylobands were redesigned to support Coldplay's goal of lowering carbon emissions and increasing sustainability.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Xyloband
- Inventor
- Jason Regler
- Manufacturer
- RB Concepts, Ltd.
- Available
- Yes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
A Xyloband was given to each member of the audience, and as the concert played, the flashing of the wristbands was synchronized to the music. Inventor Jason Regler stated that he had the idea for the product during a Coldplay concert, when they performed "Fix You". Regler and the band have an agreement which governs the design trademark on the wristbands, the patent, and the intellectual property rights to the Xylobands. The wristbands themselves are constructed of a thick fabric or biodegradable plastic with LEDs inside the material. 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 hosted on a laptop computer linked to a radio transmitter, which can remotely control the wristbands from up to 300 meters away. The operator may program all wristbands or only those of certain colors to flash on and off at specific intervals and moments. The wristbands are not intended to be lit outside of the concert venue and have a low battery life, although newer models can have their batteries charged for reuse.
Reader's Guide
Xylobands have become a notable technology for enhancing audience engagement at large-scale events, most famously through their long-term partnership with Coldplay. The wristbands were used on the Mylo Xyloto Tour, the A Head Full of Dreams Tour, and the Music of the Spheres World Tour, with each tour introducing refinements. For the Music of the Spheres World Tour, in line with Coldplay's goals of lowering carbon emissions and increasing sustainability, Xylobands were made of compostable plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane, with white being the only color. Attendees were encouraged to return the bracelets at the conclusion of the concert to be sanitized, recharged, and reused; in the first year of the tour, attendees returned an average of 86% of all wristbands distributed. Beyond Coldplay, various organizations have used Xylobands to promote special events, including professional sports teams in the NHL and NBA, Jay Z for a concert in Abu Dhabi, the Cancer Research UK 2016 Shine Walk, and Arsenal F.C. when debuting their 2016 kit. The technology's ability to create synchronized, colorful light displays in large crowds has made it a distinctive tool for live experiences.
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