Smart sneakers (gym shoes 2.0?) step out
Maybe it was after fire. Maybe it was before the wheel. But at some point, one of our prehistoric ancestors invented the shoe and suddenly the icy, rocky ground of the cold, cruel world didn't seem so bad anymore. Over the centuries, footwear evolved to keep pace with both fashion and technology. Now companies like Nike, Apple, and Adidas are trying to make your sneakers smarter.
Most joggers are tuned into iPods while they run anyway, so it makes sense that Apple and Nike would team up to make that device more useful to athletes. The Nike+ iPod Sport Kit ($29, available this summer) lets the music player record information about your run time, distance, and calories. The kit includes two parts: a sensor that you slide into the insole of the Nike+ running shoes (sold separately; prices vary) and a wireless receiver that you attach to the iPod. As you jog, the micro-electromechanical sensor—the same technology used in car airbags—sends information to the iPod. That data is then shown on the iPod's screen, and—in the future—could be uploaded onto the Nike or Apple websites to keep training records or compare times with other runners.
For $29, the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit could be an affordable way to measure your workouts. At $250, the Adidas_1 basketball shoe—also available this summer—is a workout for your wallet. The latest addition to its line of shoes with built-in, computerized mechanics that adjust the cushioning on the go, the basketball shoes are programmed to respond to the quick changes in direction and jumping that are part of the sport.
How much this technology helps your game remains to be seen. Popular Mechanics' test of the Adidas_1 running shoes found that the fancy mechanics were most useful/noticeable in changes in terrain, say from sidewalk to dirt road. Of course, a basketball game is played on a single, flat surface. At the very least, though, the flashy footwear could daze your foes.
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