I’m browsing a wakeboarding magazine as I spot a life jacket (or vest) with built-in mp3 capability. Simply plug in your mp3… your favorite tunes… and hop off the boat.
So I wonder, where are Sportswear in-built gadgets going?
I mean in 2005, Adidas released “intelligent cushioning”.
Call it intelligent clothing; the sports shoe (adidas_1) senses the cushioning level on every step, determines whether its too soft or too firm, then adapts itself to provide the right level of cushioning.
Or how about Nike capitalizing on iPod’s explosion by introducing its “Nike+ Air Zoom Moire” in 2006 (You’ve probably seen these around).
It’s essentially footwear that’s designed to talk to your iPod while you run… so you keep track of your time, distance, calories burned and pace which are stored on your iPod, displayed on the screen and even played through its headphones.
And… while we’re talking iPod…
How about a washable, water-resistant iPod remote control?
We’re talking outdoor sports where you wish to keep your iPod protected yet listen to your favorite tunes. It’s a flexible armband wireless remote for your iPod (SportCommand by Belkin).
Plus other examples such as NuMetrex™ introducing those Heart Rate Monitoring Sports Bras a few years ago.
With sensors knitted directly into the fabric giving it extra comfort – and the new sleeveless tank top looking even more fashionable.
What can you expect next?
How about standing in front of a mirror and running through a variety of sports shoes, different colors, different models… without changing your own shoes?
That’s what adidas has done with its “mi innovation center” in France found at Avenue des Champs Elysees. In effect, your stand in front of a virtual mirror… point out the adidas model you wish to try on a computer screen… and have the mirror display your feet in the chosen shoe model!
Would that save you trying dozens of shoes at a time?
(It’ll probably speed up deciding on color and look… yet, personally, I gott’a wear and feel my sport shoes before buying)
Here’s another one…
How about seeing your heart rate every time you wear your sports sunglasses for an extra 7 grams?
That’s what one German company (Rodenstock) is developing for release in 2009. The idea is to display stopwatch and heart rate data on the left edge of the lens while taking up minimum space from the left eye’s field of view. (see here)
Plus you’ve got alarm clocks that’ll monitor your sleep cycle and save you those bad groggy mornings… and clothes (Nano Dew) with vitamin E and special enzymes that’ll give you an anti-aging effect.
Out of all this… what hi-tech sportswear excites you the most? What do you find missing (or wish could be invented over the coming years)?
M. Jamal
P.S. Check out this video to get an idea about the adidas “mi innovation center” in Paris.
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Duprost….
Duprost….
that’s brilliant. it is so much easier to keep an ‘eye’ on! lol!