Readers of this blog might remember the first time I blogged about computers in your shoes and iPod ready jeans. Nike now has Nike+, footwear that connects your running to your iPOD Nano. Nike’s web site tells you to “Get connected to your running experience. Relive your runs. Track your progress.” Nike+ tutorials are available online.
How does it work? You place a sensor inside your shoes. From the Nike+ FAQ file: "The sensor collects and transmits footstrike data from each of your runs. This data is relayed to you iPod nano through your receiver which converts the data into pace, distance." YHOu plug a wireless receiver into your iPOD Nano. Each sensor has a unique ID. You download software for your iPOD Nano and start running, jogging, and walking. The Nano collects the data. You can share your results with other Nike+ owners. You can even join ongoing competitions and challenges.
Information regarding Nike+ and the iPOD Sport Kit is available on Apple’s web site.
With the interface, imagine the integrations you can do, the programming fun you can have. Imagine combining your mobile phone, GPS tracking, running glasses with a heads-up-display, Nike+, wireless Internet, and some custom software, and you have the beginnings of real fun - showing the virtual route, sights to see, running performance, potholes to avoid, and more.
Oh the possibilities!
{ 3 } Comments
The solutions provided by Garmin are a lot better than this combination.
http://www.garmin.com/fitness/
At least then I can pick the running shoes that fit correctly than having to choose from some set selection.
Suunto has had foot computers available for some time already, and you don’t even need Nike shoes..
Although iPod is not supported.
http://www.suunto.com/suunto/main/product_short.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673945490&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723697223649&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442492074&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395903593&bmUID=1162893228127&bmLocale=en_US
From University of Washington CS dept. research:
"In the case of the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, our research shows that the wireless capabilities in this new gadget can negatively impact a consumer’s personal privacy and safety. As part of our research, we built a number of surveillance tools that malicious individuals could use to track Nike+iPod Sport Kit owners. Our tools can track Nike+iPod Sport Kit owners while they our working out, as well as when they are just casually walking around town, a parking lot, or a college campus. The tracked individuals don’t even need to have their iPods with them."
http://www.cs.washington.edu/research/systems/privacy.html
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