The Change Mariner

Adias and The Bionic Running Shoe

The New York Times:

"The whole concept of an intelligent shoe would be great," said Christian DiBenedetto, a scientist here at the North American headquarters of Adidas. "Something that would change to your different needs during a marathon, or whatever you were doing, was always the fantasy."

Adidas, the 83-year-old German sporting-goods maker, is about to turn that fantasy into biomechanical reality in the form of a running shoe for men and women. Sleek and lightweight despite its battery-powered sensor, microprocessor and electric motor, the shoe, named 1, is expected to be in stores by December and will cost $250.

Adidas executives say the shoe is no gadget-dependent gimmick. Instead, its designers say it represents a leap forward in wearable technology. Each second, a sensor in the heel can take up to 20,000 readings and the embedded electronic brain can make 10,000 calculations, directing a tiny electric motor to change the shoe. The goal is to make the shoe adjust to changing conditions and the runner's particular style while in use.

"What we have, basically, is the first footwear product that can change its characteristics in real time," said Mr. DiBenedetto, who led the group that created the shoe, of its ability to adapt its cushioning as the wearer runs.

Posted by Bob King at May 6, 2004 01:03 PM | TrackBack
Related Categories: Quadrant - Technological

Brave New Unwired World: The Digital Big Bang and the Infinite Internet
John Wiley & Sons

Amazon Price: $20.37

Going Wireless: Transform Your Business with Mobile Technology
HarperBusiness

Amazon Price: $18.33

The Intelligent Wireless Web
Addison-Wesley Pub Co

Amazon Price: $39.99

Mobile Business Strategies: Understanding the Technologies and Opportunities
Addison-Wesley Pub Co

Amazon Price: $25.89