Nike+ Sportband Nike+ Sportband
Friday, April 18, 2008 - Ehud Rattner
Home >> Picture Of The Day >> Gadgets
  Peralink
Nike+ Sportband
Related Pictures
New Generation  GPS Receivers Coming
Chaotic Sculpture
Nike recently unveiled a new accessory for athletes: the Nike+ Sportband. The wristband collects information during running, jumping, or any other athletic activity, and analyzes the data either in real-time or later, on the user's PC. The new device is designed to help athletes keep a systematic and healthy practice schedule, and can assist in planning future workout sessions.

The Nike+ Sportband is very similar to another product by Nike, known as the iPod Nike kit. The new accessory looks like a regular wristband, but contains a microchip that analyzes the athlete's status. A small transmitter is inserted into the athlete’s shoe and after entering the user's details – height, weight, age – the device calculates the calories consumed, the number of steps, the distance covered, and other useful information. 

Operation of the Nike+ Sportband is fairly simple: a single start/stop button is used for both operations. The display indicates the battery status, and the different status modes can be switched using another button. The small transmitter sends signals with every step. Part of the watch embedded in the wristband is a detachable USB connector, which can (when connected to a PC) transfer the data to nikeplus.com, a website dedicated to athletes all around the world – and especially to runners. The site contains information, recommended running programs, and advice from fellow runners. Of course, the main purpose is selling Nike products, and the website is designed accordingly. 

The software provided with the wristband can help beginners to get into a training routine by using the online personal trainer. The personal trainer can prepare the runner for a 5k, 10k, half-marathon, or full-marathon run. The tracking of time, distance, and calorie consumption, helps the user maintain a healthy workout plan without overloading. Since the wristband can store information on up to 16 hours of running, the user can transfer the data to the computer once in two or three weeks, depending on his rate of practices. 

The new product was developed in order to meet the growing demand for a substitute to the existing iPod-based accessory, which requires users to purchase Apple's iPod. With the growing community of Nike runners, the Nike+ sportband has a good chance of becoming the next trend, although even the retailer price is not cheap - 40 pounds (just under $80). 

TFOT has covered the Cricket, a wrist Phone/MP3 player which has a unique design, and the ZYPAD WL 1000, a wrist-wearable computer designed to provide instant access to computing capabilities while carrying out tasks in the field. Another story about technological 'wristbands' is the Sector Watch, a concept timekeeper developed to be a fashionable and highly functional device, capable of displaying images, video messages, and GPS information. 

For more information on the Nike+ Sportband see Nike's website.

Other Articles Mind Controlled Bionic Limbs Mind Controlled Bionic Limbs The Rise of the Phoenix The Rise of the Phoenix

Other News Quake Live – a Blasting Advertisement Quake Live – a Blasting Advertisement New Method Doubles Solar Cells Efficiency New Method Doubles Solar Cells Efficiency

Other Columns What is Adiabatic Computation? What is Adiabatic Computation? What is a quantum computer? What is a quantum computer?




No comments have been posted for this item.

Picture Of The Day
Philips Radio with Voice Messaging
Philips Radio with Voice Messaging

Site Of The Week
Semiconductor
Semiconductor

Personal Column
On Lobotomy and Phantom Limbs
Ran Levi
On Lobotomy and Phantom Limbs

Book Review
The Bomb that Never Was
The Bomb that Never Was
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Site Profile
Copyright © 2007 The Future of Things. All rights reserved.