BOM led the technology design for the world’s first ‘smart’ Queen’s Baton, commissioned directly by Birmingham 2022. Our brief: create an interactive, intelligent Baton that could travel through 72 nations and territories across the Commonwealth, gathering data, capturing experiences, and connecting people — all without a technician in tow.
What We Did
– We developed and refined the technology concept, drawing inspiration from the human body:
– Eyes: A 360-degree camera to capture immersive footage
– Lungs: Air quality sensors to collect environmental data
– Heart: A heartbeat sensor that visualised Batonbearers’ pulses through responsive LED lighting
Key contributions included:
– Developing five original technology design concepts
– Writing the technical specification for integration into the final product
– Supporting the procurement process for physical design and fabrication
– Collaborating with product designers Raymont Osman, fabricators Kajul, and youth-focused organisation MAOKWO
– Providing remote tech support for the Baton across its 291-day journey
Once the relay was complete, we curated a final exhibition at BOM, including a commissioned data artwork by Antonio Roberts that visualised global air quality readings collected by the Baton.
Impact
The Baton launched at Buckingham Palace in October 2021. In a memorable exchange, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II expressed amazement at the Baton’s heartbeat-powered lights, describing the interaction as “extraordinary.”
The Baton became a centrepiece of the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. Unknown to us, our hidden rainbow lighting effect — a tribute to LGBT+ communities — was carried into the stadium by Olympic diver Tom Daley, making for a powerful and emotional moment of global visibility.
ClientBirmingham 2022 Commonwealth GamesServicesTechnology Concept Design, R&D and Specification, Remote Technical Support
