All Editors:

Chief Editor and Owner

Dr. Bryan Roberts

sports research and design engineer

Thanks very much for looking at my weblog sports technology review. I hope you enjoy coming back time and time again to look at the latest in sports equipment design. I created this website because I realised that a lot of sports products were passing my desk but few were getting much mention in the public domain. Also, when I started as a sports designer, there was no-one resource that kept me up to date with the latest in sports design. Hence, I will try to add to this database of products as much as I can, however, being in a tough and demanding job means that I can only update it once a week. Thanks for looking at the site and if you want to know a bit about me, Dr Bryan Roberts, then please read on.

I currently work with the world's largest sports technology academic research institution - Loughborough University, as well as working full-time for a UK based sports design and testing consultancy - Progressive Sports Technologies Ltd.

My expertise lies in sports apparel, golf equipment design and the body's thermoregulatory response to exercise which have been utilised by brands such as Nike, Canterbury of New Zealand, Clarks and Umbro.

In 2008, I came third in the UK Sport Garage Innovators Award along with a colleague of mine Caroline Smith. This was a nationwide sports innovation competition and we were selected in the top 3 receiving a prize. The actual design I won't speak of, but lets just say it is in development and will hopefully reach you soon.

Finally in 2009, I got selected for the inaugural sports business programme run by flyingstart online. For any would be entrepreneurs this is an extremely valuable and worthwhile programme to apply for. It teaches you how to start a business, the intricacies of tax, national insurance and company registration as well as being a great way to meet a range of young professionals who aim to make a business in the sports industry. If you would like to know more please feel free to email me.

If you would like to get in touch please email me at:

sportstechreview@gmail.com

Some of my published papers include:

Bryan Roberts, Waller, T.M. & Caine, M.P., 2007a. Thermoregulatory response to base-layer garments during treadmill exercise. International Journal of Sports Science and Engineering, 1(1), 29-38.

Bryan Roberts, Santry, J.J., Waller, T.M. & Caine, M.P., 2008. Benchmarking the ball–garment frictional properties of rugby union shirts. The Journal of the Textile Institute, iFirst, 1–6.

Bryan Roberts & Caine, M.P., 2009. Benchmarking the tensile strength of rugby union  shirts. Textile Research Journal.

USA Correspondant

Mike Vasquez

Burton Snowboard sponsored Ph.D. student

Mike hails all the way from MIT in Boston, USA and has been chosen as our new correspondent focussing on US sports technology innovations.

Mike is currently a PhD student at Loughborough University in England.  He is studying in the Mechanical Engineering Department on a project with Burton Snowboards.

After growing up in South St. Paul, MN, Mike made his way out to Boston to attend MIT.  While there he was able to combine his passion for sports and engineering by working with the MIT Sports Innovation Center.  He earned a BS (‘08) and M.Eng (‘09) in Materials Science and Engineering.  

Mike has experience in the sports industry having held internships at 3M (St. Paul, MN), Progressive Sports Technologies (Loughborough, UK), and Easton Sports (Van Nuys, CA).

On his days off from studying Mike was a captain of the MIT baseball team and continues to stay active by playing baseball and distance running. He finished his first marathon in June 2009.

For more info please visit:

www.mikevasquezonline.com/

Mike's previous sports research papers include:

Blair, K.; Turner, J.; Vasquez, M. High Speed Sensor and Testing Systems for Baseball Chest Protectors.  The Impact of Technology on Sport III. 2009.

Blair, K.; Williams, G.; Vasquez, M. The Effect of Wood Properties on the Performance of Baseball Bats. The Impact of Technology on Sport II. 2008. 

Extreme Sports Specialist

Sian Slawson

British Swimming sponsored Ph.D. student

Sian is currently a PhD student at Loughborough University in England. She is studying in the Sports Technology Institute on a project with British Swimming, developing new technologies for improved performance analysis of elite swimmers.

Sian graduated from Loughborough University’s Sports Technology BSc before joining the research team in 2006. Alongside her research studies she has also gained additional expertise working as a consultant for Progressive Sports Technologies on projects involved with sports bras development and novel training devices.

On completion of her PhD, early 2010 (fingers crossed!), she will return to surf trips to the coast, snowboarding trips to the Alps and plenty of mountain biking down the road in the Peaks.

Sian’s previous sports research papers include:

Accelerometer profile recognition of swimming strokes Vol.1, pp 81-88, Proceedings of the International Sports Engineering Association (ISEA) 7th International Conference June 3 - 6, 2008, Biarritz, France

Business Process Modelling and its use within an Elite Training Environment Vol.1, pp 73-80, Proceedings of the International Sports Engineering Association (ISEA) 7th International Conference June 3 - 6, 2008, Biarritz, France

Enabling technologies for robust swimming performance monitoring Vol.1, pp 45-54, Proceedings of the International Sports Engineering Association (ISEA) 7th International Conference June 3 - 6, 2008, Biarritz, France.