Here is a link to the article and their prose:

“Fresh from the innovative adidas adiPure line, the German athletic apparel purveyor and shoemaker presents the super lightweight Adapt model. Made to harness the body’s natural mechanics, this technologically-advanced design offers minimal cushioning between the wearer and the ground, forcing your legs and feet to experience the subtle changes in impact. This in turn will influence the wearer to run on his or her mid or fore-foot, providing a more natural run. A simple yet ingenious vision, the adiPure Adapt is further constructed from the finest materials available, producing a form-fitting mold that weighs in at 4.5 ounces, making it lighter than even Nike’s recently revealed FlyKnit. Be on the lookout for additional release details coming in the near future.”

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http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/18687/b-s-report-barack-obama

More vidoes if you click the link above!

Article by Bryan Roberts

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As an official innovation partner to UK Sport, Loughborough’s Sports Technology Institute (STI) collaborates on a wealth of projects to optimise the world-beating performances of Britain’s most talented and dedicated athletes. Under UK Sport’s innovation programme, the Institute has been commissioned to develop cutting edge technology for a number of British teams including Rowing, one of the most successful sports for Great Britain.

With a gold medal won in every Olympics since 1984, the GB Rowing Team (GBRT) relies on accurately measuring the performance of its athletes during training to help maintain this winning streak. Early season, GBRT must measure a number of physiological parameters and force delivery at different training intensities to ensure that key performance milestones are met and that athletes are on track to medal success.

An expert in the design, manufacture and test of training systems, Loughborough’s Dr Ben Halkon was commissioned to design, develop and deliver enhanced instrumentation to the GBRT fleet of indoor rower machines. The customised equipment was developed by the highly skilled STI team in collaboration with the English Institute of Sport who were responsible for managing the delivery on behalf of the sport.

Incorporating technologies from local companies Protura and Aptifirst, the solution also features software developed in partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies to capture, process and report the performance data produced.

The project was delivered with tight time and budgetary constraints, to give GBRT access to information such as the current power production rates and stroke consistency of the senior rowing squad. This crucial data will be used to determine the future training requirements in order to maximise the possibility of world-class success.

Impact

• In addition to being able to access the enhanced performance data produced by the new instrumentation, GBRT is benefiting from further collaborative work with Dr Halkon.
• For the first time GBRT can now also directly access specific calibrated athlete performance data on the water as well as in the lab.
• The outputs of this project are already being put to use for forthcoming world-class competitions.

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With an R&D background, the more fashion/style brands passed me by somewhat, these guys, some the biggest names in their respective sport, were no doubt paying top dollar for their stands and were there with the sole aim to secure big contracts for their new product lines. Don’t get me wrong, it was great to see their products, see the direction they were going, but when you’ve seen the latest coat/jacket/snowboard/gym equipment for one or two companies, you’ve probably seen them all.

The best bit of ISPO for me, were the smaller stands, around the perimeter of the halls, where the (usually) smaller up and coming companies were based. What I enjoyed most about these stands was the fact the people you were talking to, due to the size of the company, would be the owner or high level manager of the company. This is where you could really talk about their products; ask questions and make contacts more easily than on the bigger stands, where if you weren’t going to be making a substantial order for their products, they understandably weren’t as inclined to give you as much time.

The ISPO ‘Brand New’ 2012 area of the show exemplified this so well. This is a competition focussing on innovative products, run each year for start up brands. The finalists of the competition get a booth at the show and the exposure this creates. It was products from this area that a couple of my highlights come:

Dual Snowboards

In my opinion a new snow sports product that could really catch on: a split snowboard design which essentially gives you a small snowboard on each foot. This split design seemingly gives you freedom of movement and manoeuvrability and the videos of tricks are impressive. However, whether this is a product restricted to snow parks or as a training aid for snowboarders isn’t clear, but if it can translate to the slopes for recreational skiers/boarders then with the right marketing this product could be big.

Koroyd

A really interesting and exciting technology that has potential applications in numerous sporting products. Koroyd is a tubular core created from a patented manufacturing process which thermally welds tubular shapes together. The 100% consistent thermal weld removes the inconsistencies associated with adhesive bonding of traditional honeycomb structures, additionally the tubular shape of the core means it behaves consistently no matter which way the core is orientated. It is claimed that Koroyd is also a better energy absorber than EPS and foams as well as being breathable and fully recyclable. It has been used in snowboards impressively reducing core weight by 70% whilst retaining strength and flex.

The potential applications of this technology are numerous, especially in the personal protective equipment market where weight can be reduced whilst improving performance related to energy absorption.

If you have aspirations to work in the sporting goods industry, are interested in innovation or just want to get a feel for the industry, then I would highly recommend going to ISPO without a doubt. For me it was an eye opener and has reinvigorated my love for what I do and given me motivation for what I want to do in the future.

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So ISPO 2012 done!  It was a first time for me.  Certainly an event to check out just for the sheer scale of the Munich venue and the surprising amount of brands that seem to exist and be able to spend big on some very flashy stands but have still yet to break through into the UK.  Primarily a rendezvous for sales and distributers, the more technical amongst us are left to look a bit closer beyond the enthusiastic fluorescent extreme vibe and numerous renditions of artificial fur but there were a few golden nuggets to be had.

In the meantime it was also interesting to get out on the other side and see how products are actually being presented to buyers and consumers at such an event.  Ultimately something that all researchers need to keep an eye on to ensure what they are working on is in demand!

Stand outs for me… The SmarTube by Blue Desert, simply on personal experience having had a couple of refillable bladder systems that have deteriorated after the struggle to keep clean, the ability to switch in your old but more fresh bottles of water or any drink is very appealing and convenient.  Blue Desert also have a range of other neat bottle attachments to keep hydration handy!

As an ex swimmer, Powerbreather also caught my eye.  Snorkels have now become more common place on the poolside to allow swimmers to focus on their technique without the complication of breathing.  Where this product takes the lead is its balanced design around the head which should make the feeling of use more natural.  They also claim the valve allows only fresh air to be inhaled along with no water!  To strengthen the product even more it would be great to see smaller diameter tubes to minimize drag resistance and make it a little less cumbersome.

Finally, those that know me well, know that magnets make me a little bit excited!  So there maybe some bias in this final product but if you use a helmet for your sport you can see exactly why it comes in useful.  With the Fidlock there’s no more fiddling trying to buckle up, the magnets automatically orientate the buckle and then hold it securely with a one-way mechanism.  To open the buckle just slide it out-Simple!

Article by Ash Gray

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Again, there were a plethora of “barefoot” shoe brands. Unfortunately none hit the mark for me, the same concepts were recycled time and time again – ones that have been developed by “experts” but little substance when questioned. There is a lot of room in the market for barefoot brands, but its time to be innovative and different. Another disappointing product was a new football boot claiming increased speed because of a new stud configuration. If this is true then they are magicians, but when questioned there was no evidence behind the claims. Also, the mechanism which was described to me as being the reason for the increase in propulsion was also misguided. However, I will gladly apologise should this research come to fruition.

Onto, the big brands. A great showing – almost all had a large stand which promoted integration with the crowds, many of the staff were glad to talk to the consumers, and new innovations were showcased beautifully with clear marketing messages. Believe me it is fun playing with new toys and gadgets that are aimed at improving sports.

Sourcing is another interesting area. I spent around 5 hours trawling through factory stands from China, India, Taiwan, Pakistan and much more. I am always pleased by how friendly, open and honest they all are. We have so much to learn from the Asian manufacturers. In the factories I visited on this trip, they were more than helpful even to the point of wanting to travel over to the UK just to talk about business.

Finally, the most exhilarating part is always the new sports shown around the peripheries of the halls. This year the major talking point was the inaugural URBANLINING open. A mixture between tight-rope walking, trampolining and gymnastics. This sport is crazy but, becoming popular, being shown at half-time in Madonna’s show during the SuperBowl. Unfortunately, there wasn’t time to wait around to see the eventual winner, but whoever they are, they are extreme in my mind.

Love ISPO, just wish there could be an alternative for less extreme sports. Looking forward to next year already,

Article by Bryan Roberts

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The exciting element of the conference for me was visiting the smaller brands, who were trying to increase their market presence and potential catch the eye of a big game player. Three products stood out to me and I have highlighted them below. I will be writing more detailed reviews of each product shortly.

It was my first visit to ISPO and personally I found it had a great buzz and energy about it. If you are involved in this industry, or aspire to be, ISPO is a must attend event in 2013.

1)     Go Pro (Hero 2) – Extreme Sports Video

Their core product is a video/camera that in essence is capable of capturing extreme sports from unique perspectives. The Hero 2 can capture footage in HD at 120 fps and comes with a protection case that is suitable for underwater filming. This is a company for the future, look out for them – Be a HERO.

2)     Recon Instruments – Head up displays

Velocity, distance, height of jump, friend finder, are just a small selection of tools available to the wearer. A head up display located in a pair of ski goggles that uses accelerometers and GPS technology to provide the wear with more information than they could hope for – Knowledge is power.

3)     Kali Protective Helmets – Protect your assets

Quality looking helmets with the added benefit of improved protection. This is achieved through a patented manufacturing technique to improve the energy absorption characteristics – Use your head.

Article by David Rogers

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The technology used in the system and the conversion from movement to Fuel is  a mystery, however, it is likely they use tri-axis accelerometer to track the intensity of active to be able to convert this to NikeFuel. Four pre-sets are available: time, steps, calories and NikeFuel. Users can set targets of how active they want to be throughout the day with the 20 LED light display transitioning from red-to-green based on how close they are to achieving their target. Data can be transferred to a computer through the USB function or wirelessly to a free iPhone app.

Some of Nikes top sponsored athletes including Lance Armstrong, Kevin Durant and Carmelita Jeter endorse the product.

Armstrong said, “What’s great about the idea of NikeFuel and the FuelBand is the way it provides real information and numbers to show how much people are doing all day, every day. That’s what will get people challenging themselves to do more and better their own scores. It’s a tool to get people more active.”

“NikeFuel means everyone can get recognition for activities they do,” said Durant. “It provides a scoreboard for your day and gets everyone moving.”

Jeter said, “You don’t have to be an elite athlete to appreciate how NikeFuel can motivate you. It’s an easy way to get credit for activities and compare how you do with others, even if you take part in different sports.

The Nike Fuelband hits the US on the 22^nd February, the UK on the 1^st May and the rest of the world in the summer, with an expected price tag around £100.

Article by David Rogers

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Eleven times ASP world surfing champion Kelly Slater is the first to try Quiksilver’s Xplosive prototype wetsuit during the pipeline maters in Hawaii. The R&D team at quicksilver have integrated POWER LINES into the suit design based on advice from leading physiotherapists and engineers. The principle of these power lines is to store and release elastic energy back to the athlete through activation of major muscle groups.

“The power lines have been designed to mimic the naturally-occurring stretch reflexes within the body, by adding these lines to the already established reflexes, we can amplify the body response of action and reaction”.

Quiksilver also claim their suit improves proprioception and has injury prevention properties.

“The athlete’s awareness of their body is both complemented and enhanced by the suit. The wetsuit aids the control of major muscles during explosive actions and also allows for smooth movement. This is highly important in injury prevention.’

Quiksilver are not the first to add an elastic material to sporting apparel, indeed adidas were the first to market with their TECHFIT™ PowerWEB™ boldly claiming figures of improvements in power of up to 5%.

Whether the Xplosive suit is assistive, or indeed resistive remains to be seen until or if scientific data is published, wetsuits are almost resistance suits in themselves due to the nature of neoprene wrapped around the joints. Whether it reduces injury may be a question for Mr Slater as a long term and large scale study would be required to properly get a handle on this.

Article by David Rogers

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Cambridge Design Partnership’s innovative design allows commuters to keep fit and look smart

The practice of cycling to work, whether for convenience or keep-fit, has risen sharply in recent years: Yet cycling is still impractical for many people who need to dress smart for their job. Commuters wanting to cycle often have to sacrifice either a sharp look or exercise in their struggle to find convenient ways to cycle to work and look slick. Cambridge Design Partnership today announces an innovative solution to this problem.

Suitpack is a prototype of a compact rucksack that, with an innovative yet simple patented roll-fold concept, combines convenience with a crease-free solution for clothes. It is designed to hang easily from locations wherever required allowing easy-access to the clothes, toiletry and shoe compartments. The Suitpack has been designed for speed of use with its novel folding system making it an all-round solution for the modern commuter.

Increased commuting time and the ever more common practice of working long hours often mean that there is little time outside of work to dedicate to exercise. The convenience of cycling as a form of exercise, the popularity of various government cycling initiatives, and financial and environmental concerns, have all resulted in a significant net increase in cycle-commuting. 1.3 million new UK cyclists joined the roads last year, there are now 783,000 cycle commuters and the increase in cycling levels is predicted to continue to grow another 20% by 2015.

Furthermore, cyclists clearly enjoy spending on their passion1: The bicycle market in the UK was worth £1.62 billion in 2010, (up 28% on the previous year), with the accessories market worth £853 million. The average cycle commuter spends, on average, £195/year, and ‘enthusiasts’ a whopping £1295/year, on accessories. And that’s just the UK market; the EU cycle market is 10 times the UK’s with 4 million frequent commuter cyclists.

As part of their ethos to think differently, Cambridge Design Partnership has ventured into new capabilities by combining their traditional engineering and innovation skills with ‘cut and stitch’ design. This is another example of flexibility and versatility in applying innovation to diverse market opportunities and technology areas with the ability to gather rich, in-depth research to discover unmet consumer needs and tackle them with creative solutions.

“We know the challenges faced by anyone who has to pack smart clothes for the journey to work,” commented Ben Strutt, Head of Design at Cambridge Design Partnership. “Most people who go to the gym early, cycle or jog to work, and commute regularly in ‘practical’ clothes understand the need to change into smart attire upon arrival. This can be annoyingly impractical: Current poor solutions result in disruption to personal routine; lack of exercise, or commuting via different methods. There is also the issue of office changing facilities which tend to be cramped, impersonal, with floors too wet to put clothes on.

“Very often the trick of good design is not to reinvent the wheel; but to identify and understand problems, give a fresh perspective, and address a burning gap in the market. Here, Cambridge Design Partnership has provided an innovative, graceful solution to what is, for many people, an everyday problem, and which addresses a huge market need.”

It’s not just cyclists who will benefit from Suitpack. Many commuters wish to go to the gym before or after work, or during their lunch break, and Suitpack also fits within the dimensions of ‘hand luggage’ allowed by European airports and in railway ceiling racks, allowing business commuters to travel in comfortable clothes with all of the convenience of the backpack form-factor. Also despite its compact size there is still space for a laptop and important daily accessories.

Graeme Henderson, business commuter and partner in the project, says: “Life in the city can be fast and days in the office are often long, so many people find they don’t have time to go to the gym or play any sport. Commuting by bike solves this problem by incorporating exercise into your daily routine, so a healthy lifestyle and a busy job are no longer incompatible. But the problem of what to wear means the only options seem to be turning up with crumpled trousers, keeping your wardrobe under your desk or taking transport and exercising later. The Suitpack is a smart solution to all this.”

CDP’s Head of Design continues “Cambridge Design Partnership’s most recent demonstrator has evolved during the application of our usual iterative design process; with rapid experimentation and critiquing of successive models and prototypes we quickly learn about problems and opportunities, while refining the design for cost and labour effective manufacture.”

Cambridge Design Partnership is now interested in speaking with potential partners about the future branding and development of the Suitpack backpack, or its core innovations into other luggage designs, and on to the manufacture and distribution phase.

1 Dr Alexander Grous; ‘The British Cycling Economy: (http://corporate.sky.com/documents/pdf/publications/the_british_cycling_economy)

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