A Running Shoe For Agent 86? 356
manganese4 writes "The New York Times (free reg. req.) is reporting on a new shoe from Adidas that contains a ~10KHz chip capable of changing the shoe's characteristics to meet the runner's need. From the article:
'Adidas executives say the shoe is no gadget-dependent gimmick... 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. The shoes will have push-button controls, light-emitting diodes to display settings and an instruction manual on a CD-ROM that will advise wearers on, among other things, how to change the battery after every 100 hours of use.' I wonder if the CPU can be overclocked?"
And... (Score:0, Insightful)
what a gimmick (Score:5, Insightful)
Sport Legal? (Score:4, Insightful)
It's just another imbedded system (Score:5, Insightful)
There are far more stressful environments for computers in military and industrial settings.
Re:A battery on a running shoe. Think about this.. (Score:5, Insightful)
You know what really would have been badass. If they added bluetooth capability between it and a pda so you can track your workouts wirelessly. Then create a bluetooth heart rate monitor with a watch that would intergrate the entire system. You could modify your step and check your heart rate at the same time. I should start working on the patent...
motor? (Score:3, Insightful)
with all this technology and... (Score:3, Insightful)
if the processor doesn't use alot of power, I'd think if they include some sort of kinetic power generator, that it won't need batteries.
battery life (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Sport Legality? (Score:4, Insightful)
So now you have to RTFM to get some exercise (Score:5, Insightful)
So, does these shoes have a CD-ROM-drive built-in or how one is going to use the manual on the road? Because, it would suck quite royally ass if the BSOD strikes while running at the woods and you have to try to figure out, how to reboot your shoes. And what if the batteries run out? The only thing you can do with the manual is to wave it and hope someone equipped with pair of AAA-batteries (or whatever the shoes are using) and a laptop would see you (a laptop is required because the manual contains the instructions, how to change batteries).
These shoes will bring us to a totally new level of complexity of having some exercise.
Re:Sport Legality? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:It's just another imbedded system (Score:5, Insightful)
why batteries? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:what a gimmick (Score:3, Insightful)
As a semi-serious runner, I think it will probably not sell among anyone who is already clued up about the type of footwear they require until Adidas can prove equivocally that it can shave seconds off performance times. Most serious runners already know their ideal shoe, and it's more about pronation and body mechanics affecting running style than energy return from the sole.
Overclocking? Why not underclocking!? (Score:3, Insightful)