Adidas Introduces First Intelligent Shoe

2004-06-07 - Herzogenaurach, Germany: After three years of highly confidential in-house development, adidas has unveiled the most advanced shoe ever. Called "1", the shoe provides intelligent cushioning by automatically and continuously adjusting itself. It does so by sensing the cushioning level, using a sensor and a magnet. It then understands whether the cushioning level is too soft or too firm via a small computer. It adapts with a motor-driven cable system to provide the correct cushioning throughout the user's run.

"This product will change the entire sporting goods industry. It is a true first and establishes adidas as a clear leader in the field of innovation," said Erich Stamminger, Executive Board Member responsible for Global Marketing and North America. "This is the product that illustrates to us, also when developing products, 'Impossible is Nothing'."

Three years in development, the shoe was a secret project, known by only a few people even within adidas-Salomon. It was completely developed by the adidas Innovation team in Portland and Herzogenaurach. An exclusive distribution of shoes will be in select retailers and adidas Sport Performance stores in December 2004. It will retail for $300 and €250 Euros.

The "1" shoe is another step in Adidas' emphasis on customised and customizable products. The company already has implemented the miAdidas programme, providing customised running shoes based on readings of individual customers feet, and also the F-50 football boot, which can be customised with various inserts by the user. (To see earlier MadeForOne.com article on the Adidas F-50, click here.