Nike’s auto-laced future • Hacker News Board

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#31

Post by pferde » Sat, Jan 19, 2019, 10:27 AM UTC

ksec wrote: post #19

May be in a few years time I will start something call Analog. Which is to sell anything that isn't Digital. Seriously I think the world is getting a little.... too digital in everything. ( I know this may be unpopular on HN ) I want to simplified the tightening lace, but it doesn't have to be auto. May be in a Pull Lever like mechanics. When will someday people gets to hack the system and tightening up your lace jus…

The system used on Salomon running shoes is rather good - ever since I tried it, I feel like the traditional shoe laces are cumbersome. https://www.salomon.com/en-us/blog/how-to-use-the-salomon-qu...

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#32

Post by pferde » Sat, Jan 19, 2019, 10:28 AM UTC

Lazare wrote: post #10

PudgePacket wrote: post #8

If you lose wifi will you be unable to take your shoe off ?

1) They use bluetooth, not wifi. 2) They're actually designed to work in situations where you don't even have your phone as a primary use case. So no, of course not. That was actually a major point made early on in the article. If you'd even skimmed the article, you'd have seen the answer to your question. :)

The worrying thing is that this is even a question.

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#33

Post by maaaats » Sat, Jan 19, 2019, 10:32 AM UTC

This lacingpattern looks like the same used on bicycle shoes for some years. For an example see "shimano rc9". Not adjusted by a motor, though.

Think it's called Boa lacing.

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#34

Post by everyone » Sat, Jan 19, 2019, 10:42 AM UTC

droopyEyelids wrote: post #3

jzwinck wrote: post #2

I'm surprised a sport like basketball would allow players to wear apparel which improves their performance using electronics and a motor.

My read was that it'll improve safety and recovery more than enhance performance.

I was thinking that if it achieves the exact same tightness and fit consistently every time that could be very helpful.

I have no idea about basketball but for mountaineering I sometimes re-lace my boots a few times after putting them on to get the tightness just right in the various places, and the same on both feet.

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#35

Post by StavrosK » Sat, Jan 19, 2019, 10:48 AM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #24

sdrothrock wrote: post #9

It's interesting to me that this gets lampooned, but the autolacing shoes in Back to the Future[1] (and the release of actual shoes a few years back[2]) was greeted with awe and cheers. Different crowds, maybe? [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28Wa5L-fkkM [2] https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/05/nike-mag-first-look/

Autolacing in Back to the Future didn't require you to download vendor's app and connect to an account on vendor's service over the Internet. That would be my one and only criticism of this implementation. Beyond that, it's pure awesomeness, and I want a pair.

Also it didn't make the shoe useless when the battery went bad.

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#36

Post by raverbashing » Sat, Jan 19, 2019, 10:52 AM UTC

jamilbk wrote: post #30

When a shoe becomes untied, will it auto-lace as I’m walking? And why stop at shoes? Bring on the auto-lacing corsets, self-buttoning shirts, and auto-adjusting belts (useful for large meals).

Really, apart from Zippers and Velcro, clothing fastening technology seems to be stuck in the 19th (or maybe earlier than that) century

Yes I want self-tightening shoes, continuous belts (some exists, or close enough solutions, but still with the buckle), self-adjusting and tightening wrist bands, etc

And don't get me started on "button down" shirts, I actively prefer those with the rivet type fastener because at least they're trying

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#37

Post by leowoo91 » Sat, Jan 19, 2019, 10:59 AM UTC

jamilbk wrote: post #30

When a shoe becomes untied, will it auto-lace as I’m walking? And why stop at shoes? Bring on the auto-lacing corsets, self-buttoning shirts, and auto-adjusting belts (useful for large meals).

I think one of the things make a suit 'prestigious' is that it requires effort and time.

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#38

Post by kingosticks » Sat, Jan 19, 2019, 11:16 AM UTC

vinay427 wrote: post #14

kingosticks wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Coming from someone who doesn't watch any basketball, are there many incidents involving shoes coming off or becoming loose? Is the safety argument real?

This is addressed somewhat in the article: > Players, for example, will tell you that after about a half hour on the court, their feet will swell, sometimes up to a half size. This changes their comfort level significantly. So they have a choice: either play with their shoes too loose for 30 minutes or tighten them enough to be painful by halftime. Not with an adjustable shoe.

So the safety argument isn't real then. It's a comfort argument.

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#39

Post by arethuza » Sat, Jan 19, 2019, 11:43 AM UTC

mpolichette wrote: post #13

Put it in ski boots... done and done, I’d buy it right away

Mountain walking/climbing boots as well - adjusting laces in bad weather if you have gaiters, over-trousers and crampons on can be a nightmare.

Mind you they'd have to have a reliable fall-back so they still work and are adjustable if (when) the power fails.

Edit: I was actually thinking last weekend when I think I over tightened my laces on my boots and my feet got quite sore that strain gauges in boots/laces might be a good thing!

Re: Nike’s auto-laced future

#40

Post by Xylakant » Sat, Jan 19, 2019, 11:54 AM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #24

sdrothrock wrote: post #9

It's interesting to me that this gets lampooned, but the autolacing shoes in Back to the Future[1] (and the release of actual shoes a few years back[2]) was greeted with awe and cheers. Different crowds, maybe? [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28Wa5L-fkkM [2] https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/05/nike-mag-first-look/

Autolacing in Back to the Future didn't require you to download vendor's app and connect to an account on vendor's service over the Internet. That would be my one and only criticism of this implementation. Beyond that, it's pure awesomeness, and I want a pair.

These shoes don’t either. They can be operated manually, as the article states. They have a built-in Sensor and auto-lace when you put them on. You just cannot have some of the nice things that the app brings: multiple different profiles, ...