Adidas creates 'smart shoe'

[Hum]

PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) -- Adidas says it has created the world's first "smart shoe" by mating it with a computer chip that adapts its cushioning level to a runner's size and stride.

The Adidas 1 is the product of a three-year secret project the German company developed at its U.S. headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

"This is the first intelligent shoe ever," said Erich Stamminger, global marketing director for Adidas. "It senses, understands and adapts."

After thousands of hours of testing, Adidas is confident the computerized shoe will endure the wear-and-tear of running in almost any condition -- from hard pavement to dirt trails, and dry streets to wet beaches.

The entire assembly weighs no more than 40 grams -- just 10 percent of the 400-gram total weight of the shoe, to keep it light enough for distance runners.

But the $250 price tag is likely to make it a luxury item when it first goes on sale in December, said Paul Swangard, managing director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon.

Full story:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/05/06/adidas....e.ap/index.html

[nuka_t]

can you put linux on it?

thats pretty cool and the price seems reasonable.

[....]

can you put linux on it?

thats pretty cool and the price seems reasonable.

$250 reasonable? For shoes???

You're nuts....no way are masses going to pay $250 for....gym shoes.

[davemania]

I say the price is reasonable, I doubt its marketed toward the general population. I think it's like the full body swimsuit aimed for the pro athelets or enthusiast.

[BroChaos Veteran]

heh, you know people are gonna try to 'hack' it :p

[Hum]

:unsure: I still wonder what the shoes do .... tell your weight, fortune, the weather ? I'm guessing they may record your miles run, but the article dosen't make that clear.

I had the scarey thought they may come with GPS tracking to let parents know where their children are. :huh:

[icecaveman]

It should read:

Adidas creates smart shoes for stupid people, I mean Joe Average is going to buy those shoes just because they are cool and will have no need for it like "professionals" do. So don't get offended when I say "for stupid people."

[Tran]

I'd never pay $250 for a shoe unless it can cook for me. Of course you know there are going to be enthusiasts out there with too much money that'll buy this.

[deuz]

all u do is wear shoes, is this 250 us dollars, but if it was a foot massager at the same time then maybe :whistle:

[....]

Yeah, even if it massaged....$250 is ridiculous.

[Sophism]

we should put linux on it.

[sjiggag23]

real runners already know what shoe is perfect for them. they dont need one thats perfect for everybody and priced for bill gates

[MrWatchDawg]

Well guys actually thats a REALLY good deal. The reason I say that is becuase i am in track and we have to have like 5 pairs of shoes for each surface and each usually ranges from like 80 - 130. I would pay 250 for that show beaucse that way i wont need 15 million other shows. Right now a friend of mine has 48 pairs of shows and given that 10 or 15 are spikes for running but he is a pro runner and will most likely make it to the olmpics. I personally have maybe 20 pairs. So ya this will help people in the track and cross country team out alot

[....]

Well guys actually thats a REALLY good deal. The reason I say that is becuase i am in track and we have to have like 5 pairs of shoes for each surface and each usually ranges from like 80 - 130. I would pay 250 for that show beaucse that way i wont need 15 million other shows. Right now a friend of mine has 48 pairs of shows and given that 10 or 15 are spikes for running but he is a pro runner and will most likely make it to the olmpics. I personally have maybe 20 pairs. So ya this will help people in the track and cross country team out alot

And once you buy it, realize that it doesn't do what you wanted, you're out $250.

[threetonesun]

Yeah, $250 for track shoes is not expensive, especially if they work like they say they do. If you think it is, I'm sure you don't do much distance running.

Although - I would never pay that much. I'm willing to pay $40 for some last year reeboks and run them into the ground.

[cheekymonkey]

Don't forget guys, that $250 is not a lot for shoes. $600 for a pair of deadstock Dunks or Jordans is a lot ;)

I'm in the UK where a pair of top line new trainers / sneakers can cost $150, which is well in excess of $200. So to get a pair that will perform as the adidas 1's are stated to do would be great.

Also, adidas have a history of this kind of thing - the micropacer's. My advice: buy a pair, keep 'em in the box then sell for ?1000 within 5 years or so on eBay.