Product Observation Blogpost 4 (Adidas Intelligence 1.1)
What is the 'thing' you are observing?
Adidas Intelligence 1.1 sneakers
What is the purpose of it?
Running shoes for the astute runner
How is it a part of one's everyday life?
With modernization have come heavy infrastructural developments which have resulted in the swallowing up of traditional running routes such as backyard woods. These have been replaced by hard concrete footpaths which have little give, hence are in the medium to long term are a cause of joint pains and degradation. For urban running, then, one requires shoes with adequate side and sole padding-- which at the same time transfer as much of your energy to the ground to avoid tiring you.
Enter the Adidas Intelligence.
How is it designed well?
The Adidas 1.1 shoe utilizes advanced material in the quest for making the shoe as light, sporty and fancy-looking as possible. The upper is made of a blend of natural leather, latex and plastic while the sole is made of a state-of-the-art blend of polyurethane foam, rubber and fiberglass. The whole outer shoe surface is glazed in polyurethane to ensure durability.
To top up all this sophisticated hardware is the microprocessor-controlled motorized cable system which works hand in hand with a sensor to provide the perfect shoe cushioning level regardless of the runners' weight, pace or running surface. The sensor on the shoe can read up to 200,000 sensor measurements per second therefore the shoe is able to adjust in real time in response to any changes.
One can also customize the shoe by creating preset shoe-fit modes for various activities by a quick and easy process. A CD guide that ships with the shoe elaborates more on the care and use of the shoe.
How is it designed not so well?
The only downside I have realized of this product is that battery technology has yet to mature to the levels required for the optimal performance of this shoe's motor. Currently, Lithium-ion batteries are in use. These are able to supply high power but tend to get depleted quickly, hence the need to frequently replace them.
NB: Even so, one is able to determine how much power is left in each battery by pressing on buttons mounted on the shoe arch.
What improvements would you make?
I would develop USB rechargeable motors since a lot of the shoe's users are hardcore athletes who would look up training instructions or eating suggestions on the computer via the website or accompanying help CD. This would ease the burden on having to replace the batteries every so often.
Anything else?
This is a novel concept that underlines Adidas' intention of keeping athletics and recreation in line with technological trends—and this may well be the future of footware.
Dennis Odhiambo
