Nike may have backed off its wearable technology efforts a bit, but that doesn"t mean the company has been asleep at the wheel when it comes to developing new cool tech for its other product lines. Last year, Nike offered Michael J. Fox a prototype pair of its Air Mag shoes that have "power laces", a concept that was popularized in the 1989 film Back to the Future Part 2. If you were like so many others, you wanted a pair.
Confirmed by Nike yesterday, the company is readying their HyperAdapt 1.0 shoes - adaptive lacing shoes that will contour to your feet automatically. The tightening system is engaged when your heel presses into the back of the shoes. Once your heel has settled, the shoe automatically engages the tightening process. The shoe is powered by a battery, which means recharging your shoes will be something you"ll have to consider. Fortunately, the battery is said to last about two weeks before a charge is necessary so this won"t be a daily chore.
The self-lacing tech isn"t just for show. Athletes are constantly having to comb store shelves for shoes that fit their feet right. Even when anyone finds a good pair of shoes, getting them to wrap around your feet properly can be impossible, depending on the design. HyperAdapt 1.0 will tighten the shoe specifically to your feet through battery-powered sensors. If you don"t like the automatic setting, the HyperAdapt tech can be adjusted to more snug or relaxed fittings. No price was confirmed by Nike during the announcement.
Source: Nike