Nike announced its new innovation, a self-lacing shoe technology called HyperAdapt 1.0, enabling the shoe to automatically tighten using a sensor technology. The new technology will be available later this year to Nike+ members.
In the official announcement released by Nike, the company revealed that the shoe was a result of deep research in digital, electrical and mechanical engineering. It's Nike's first performance vehicle for the company's aim for platform breakthrough, adaptive lacing.
A Senior Innovator for Nike, Tiffany Beers, who is also the project's technical lead, explained how HyperAdapt 1.0 works. "When you step in, your heel will hit a sensor and the system will automatically tighten. Then there are two buttons on the side to tighten and loosen. You can adjust it until it's perfect," she elaborated.
The adaptive lacing system in HyperAdapt 1.0 is not fully automated yet because users still have to configure the buttons that will guide the shoes to tighten and loosen according to personal needs. However, according to Mail Online, the company says it shows the possibility for a similar, automated system. The team is now still exploring ways to improve this technology and adapt it to create a hyper-personalized platform.
WIRED revealed from Nike's vice president of design John Hoke that after a couple of wears, the shoe will automatically adjust to users' preferred setting. The shoe will use batteries as the source of power for the sensors at the bottom register. The battery will be chargeable, and could last up to two weeks.
In developing and creating the HyperAdapt 1.0, Nike works closely with designer Tinker Hatfield. The designer claimed that they are able to anticipate the needs of athletes and the power lacing product is the proof of it. The ability to make swift micro-adjustments could be the solution for any athletes who has worried about loose laces or pressure caused by tight tying. "That's an important step because feet undergo an incredible amount of stress during competition," Hatfield noted.
Hatfield believes that the potential of adaptive lacing is huge, especially for athletes. "It is amazing to consider a shoe that senses what the body needs in real-time. That eliminates a multitude of distractions, including mental attrition, and thus truly benefits performance," he added.
Nike's innovative HyperAdapt 1.0 provides convenience and carefree automation for one of the most important equipment for athletes: the shoes. Using a sensor, the shoe will tighten when users put their feet on the shoes, and will learn users preferences after a couple of wears.
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