Now if they could only figure out Power Lacing Technology. California-based Outland Research has recently received a patent for its new sports shoe tech that allows for adjustable cushioning. The shoe features multiple hollow bladders, which are connected by a series of tubes (just like the internet) and contain some spiffy electrically-activated liquid. When a charge is applied, the liquid hardens, changing from a free-flowing cushion to a stiff foot support for running or jogging. The change can be activated by a knob on the shoe, via Bluetooth, or even potentially by a shock sensor in the shoe itself, which could adjust firmness on the fly. Changes in the liquid take only a few milliseconds, so the shoe could even potentially adjust stiffness step to step. No word yet on any commercial takers just yet.
[Via
Smart Mobs]
posted Dec 22nd 2006 12:10PM
Now this technology seems cool, imagine needing to run away from something very fast, and you can stiffen your shoes from comfort to sprinter in a matter of milliseconds via a BT controller. Sounds pretty sweet to me.
remember how popular the pump-shoes were back in the day...
i never had those either...
Sounds cool but it's about a year too late adidas already has a very similar tech minus the bluetooth functionality
http://www.eastbay.com/catalog/productdetail.cfm?TID=5555-56220611250156111269029-0&cm=GLOBAL%20SEARCH%3A%20KEYWORD%20SEARCH&supercat=home&model_nbr=66464&sku=772791
Doesn't anyone remeber "Back to the Future 2"?
Bad as it was... this is a total visual and functional knock off of those shoes.
The picture in the post *is* from Back to the Future 2.
Also, "bad as it was"? You must realize it's one of the finest movies movies ever made.
Scott take a closer look at the screen cap....and RTFA and rewatch the movie again. Stupidity ensues.
Outland, eh? Surely Sean Connery and (the late great) Peter Boyle were involved.
Scott @ Dec 22nd 2006 12:38PM
Doesn't anyone remeber "Back to the Future 2"?
Hello, McFly, Anybody Home?
Now why don't you make like a tree and get outta here?
"Now this technology seems cool, imagine needing to run away from something very fast, and you can stiffen your shoes from comfort to sprinter in a matter of milliseconds via a BT controller. Sounds pretty sweet to me"
Yes so after you try on these shoes, realize how comfortable they are, you can firm them up and bolt out the store with them!
Adidas (1.0) introduced a running and basketball shoe with a motorized device that electronically adjusts the heel and fit as you walk and run. I have a pair and they work amazingly.
Whoa! Just like in Back To The Future! Craziness.
All we need now is the hovering skateboard!
"...on the _fly_"! :D
Good one, guys.
I'd definitely buy this when it comes out! Now only if it came with a hover board...
I don't think I want my shoes to be smarter than I am.
Me: "Hey, why am I running all of a sudden?"
My shoes: "You could use a little exercise today chubby."
Man I've wanted a pair of those shows since I saw the movie. Always amazed me Nike never brought them out. Hopefully they will. They look so much cooler then anything on the market right now and I would totally tuck my jeans into them too. :)