Nike's Self-Tying Sneakers

Launches tomorrow, Jayson Tatum is in the early promo video. You'll need a smartphone and an app to tie your shoes.


https://sneakernews.com/2019/01/14/nike-adapt-bb-basketball-shoe-release-date/

https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...al-of-new-iphone-controlled-self-lacing-shoes

 

Does anyone disagree that this internet of things movement is supremely dumb? Am I just old at 29 already?

 

I'd buy these for my son just so I can prank him by untieing them at random times.

 

I just hope the new shoe firmware disables Tatum's long contested two shot selection algorithm.

 

If it's not this, I'll be very disappointed

 

I'm a software engineer. The S in "IOT" stands for security. People think that because they can't physically break into a computer that its impossible to virtually do so, and they're wrong. Every time you hear of a DDOS attack, its probably coming from compromised IOT devices. The industry needs legislation a decade ago and won't until it becomes a huge problem.

They are, and its even cooler than you think.
a) Tinker Hatfield designed and built the original prop shoes for the movie. He also went on to design most of the Air Jordans. He worked at Nike for years, and the Electric Adaptalbe Reaction Lacing (EARL) was his "I want to find a way to actually make this work" side project for years.
b) for the 30th anniversary of the movie, on the date Marty McFly goes to the future in the movie, they gave an actual pair of the shoes to Michael J Fox.
c) Tinker and his work are really cool, and if you want to know more, there's an episode of Abstract: The Art of Design on Netflix on him and the EARL project.
d) This stuff now is the latest generation of this technology, and it looks cool.

 

Agreed. I'm not digital, I'm all Analog in my life

Legislation isn't the answer. The answer is we're truly screwed. I'm in security as well and it's bleak from hospitals to the power grid to thermostats and it's not getting better.

 

It's also possible/likely that this is a gen1 issue. More migration of IOT being cloud connected only means lower mass security risks. It's a great use of AI/ML as well. Once 90% of data is routed via the cloud, detecting attack patterns in realtime will be pretty straightforward. There have been lots of existential technology threads in first gen products and we're all still here.

On topic, I hope these expand beyond basketball and into other sports. These could be really useful in golf where much of the community is elderly and getting elderly-er.

 

When Draymond kicks someone in the balls he can claim he was hacked.

 

That's cool, I didn't want to finish that drink I was having. And it's cool that my dinner has some soda on it now too.

 

This is a godsend for people with disabilities.

 

Perhaps. Nike is all over this. The FlyEase are great. https://m.nike.com/us/en_us/c/innovation/flyease

 

This is definitely true, and while I can't substantiate it, I've heard that a lot of seemingly-ridiculous products of the "HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU" variety were conceived for disabled people. Marketing to the general public, either as a novelty or a legitimate need, helps make them economically viable.

 

No smartphone is necessary to lace the shoes. The wearer can use a button on the shoe itself (although the app will have the ability to save different fits).

I’m very surprised at how they look. I was expecting more of the BTTF style (non starter fashion wise for me). Probably going to get a pair if I can snag one.

Tatum won’t lace ‘em up tomorrow night as the first player to sport them.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25731539/jayson-tatum-nike-making-lacing-thing-with-hyperadapt-bb

 

Some photos and videos...

 

I look forward to the Black Mirror episode about the man whose phone dies and he can't get out of his shoes.

 

It’ll be self zipping pants for that episode.

 

https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/15/...-app-features-battery-life-price-release-date

I've owned quite a few Nikes in my day (too many perhaps) and 98% of them get laced once and never untied because I just slip them on, then again I'm not using them for running or playing hoops. I do like the looks of these. Much better than most other Nike bball offerings, but I don't need data harvesting shoes+app in my life.

 

What data? How tight you like your shoes? You’re also not required to connect them to your phone regardless.