Adidas Releases 'Boot with a Brain'
(SPORTS TECHNOLOGY)
Adidas recently unveiled a soccer boot equipped with a “brain”, the adizero f50 powered by miCoach.
The “brain” with these boots is a microchip, the miCoach SPEED_CELL. The f50 includes other key Adidas technologies including Sprintweb, which provides stability during high speed movements, Sprintskin, a single layer synthetic for ball-feel and reduced weight and Sprintframe, which uses geometrics and a new stud construction to offer the perfect balance between lightweight and stability.
Similar to the Nike+iPod technology, the chip allows players to collect a wide variety of data, including speed, average speed (recorded every second), maximum speed (recorded every five seconds), number of sprints, distance, distance at high intensity levels, steps and stride rates.
All of this data can be uploaded to and analyzed at Adida’s miCoach.com online training hub, and can be stores for up to seven hours and pushes it over WiFi (News 
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The stats can be shared on Facebook or uploaded to existing training plans via the miCoach website, which can then be built into personalized coaching programs that miCoach creates specifically for a user.
“We have been working to develop a boot with a brain for some time and what we have produced will revolutionze the football industry. What makes the boot unique is that for the first time you will be able to compare yourself to some of the best players in the world,” said Markus Baumann, Adidas vice president of global football.
As part of a worldwide advertising campaign, users can compare their performances with some of the world’s best players, including Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Manchester United and England player Ashley Young. If users grow tired of trying to get to those levels, they can compare and check out scores from friends.
“The new boot will help players be faster than ever and now, with the miCoach technology, they’ll be able to prove just how fast they really are. I can’t wait to wear the boots in November and share my stats with the Adidas community,” said Young.
Plans for 2012 include the miCoach football video game online using user’s own real-life abilities.
The adizero f50 is the lightest in its class at 165g and the f50 miCoach bundle will be available in November for 245 euro ($330.)
In related news, Headphones.com announced it is offering select Senneheiser headpones. Popular Sennheiser headphones models from headphones.com include a number of innovative varieties. The Adidas sport series offers technology innovations that allow users to clean their headphones after workouts.
Rachel Ramsey is a TMCnet editorial assistant, contributing news items and feature articles on a variety of communications and technology topics. Rachel has previously worked in PR and communications at The Wriglesworth Consultancy, an award-winning London PR firm. She has also contributed to the creative services department at CBS 3 and The CW Philly in Philadelphia. To read more of Rachel's articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Jennifer Russell
