Important Innovations

Nike's New Air Zoom BB NXT  Source:  Nike's Rawthentic Innovative Footwear Tech This summer, Nike will roll out innovative new footwear technology.  It's called the Nike Air Zoom BB NXT and it's a basketball sneaker.  It has brand new technology to enhance the athlete's performance and fight fatigue with enhanced energy return. Fatigue Relief on the Court In basketball, fatigue is a major enemy, particularly for "positionless" NBA players who constantly run the court during games.  To help athletes maintain energy throughout the games, the new sneaker contains a system of full length REACT foam under the heel, a thin plate and Nike Air Zoom pods under the ball of the foot.  Nike says the new technology provides the wearer top energy return, top cushioning and strength North America and China A black and green colored version called "Dangerous" will be released on July 2 in China and July 25 in North America.  And in September a white...

Adidas Onboard the International Space Station Source:  Adidas experiments on the ISS in space Putting Running Tech to the Distance Test Adidas is really going the distance.  It just sent running shoe material aboard a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station.  The purpose is to develop the most comfortable, high performance running shoes from experimentation in the harsh conditions of space.  The German based footwear giant is performing the first ever footwear research in space. One Big Boost in Zero-Gravity Boost pellets made of the same plastic that Adidas integrates into the soles of its Boost sneakers and other running shoes are undergoing scientific experimentation in space.  This will give Adidas the opportunity to test their performance and maximum configuration in sneakers without the interference of gravity. World's Longest Scientific Marathon The plastic pellets are made of two difference polymers with slightly different molec...

Using Augmented Reality to Sell Limited Edition Sneaks Source:  Adidas AG Cuts Sales Process from Hours to a Few Minutes It's a time consuming and often frustrating process to buy much in demand, limited edition sneakers.  Adidas AG is changing the playing field.  It has just started deploying augmented reality to upend the process. Adidas AR App The company debuted an AR app at its big ComplexCom event in Long Beach, California.  Interested attendees downloaded an AR app that told them where to go in the complex to "Unlock the Drop".  Once there, they used their smartphones to follow instructions to pick a size, check out and where to pick up the sneakers.  All done with no sales staff interaction.  And most importantly the process took a few minutes, instead of hours. Ramping Up AR Adidas says it's focusing heavily on utilizing augmented reality as a means of increasing access to their most desired products.  Company officials say...