Nike plus shoes how does it work

Bettinita Harris. Bettinita Harris began writing in as a newspaper reporter and editor. She has a Bachelor of Science in journalism from the University of Kansas. The Nike Plus system allows runners to keep track of workout data wirelessly. Video of the Day. It provides battery power for the receiver and a user interface for the workout software. The workout software lets people:.

Older Nanos can automatically download the software using the iPod Update feature in iTunes. In addition to providing power and a user interface, the Nano tells runners how the workout is progressing. A computerized voice describes how far they've run, how quickly and how far away the destination is. The Nano's flash drive also provides storage space for workout data.

When synched, the Nano transfers that data to a PC or Mac. People can also use the site's MapIt feature to map and share their routes. We'll look at them in more detail next. The sensor detects every step a runner takes and broadcasts this information to the receiver. The receiver routes the information to the iPod Nano, which relays it to the runner, either on the screen or through the headphones.

It detects the runner's footfalls through its piezoelectric accelerometer. Piezoelectric materials produce electrical current when they change shape, or they change shape when exposed to electricity. Piezoelectric transducers, often used in speakers, rapidly change shape when they come in contact with electrical current.

Piezoelectric sensors, on the other hand, use quartz, silicon or manmade crystals that produce electricity when squeezed, moved or bent. These generator-like crystals are often microscopic. Depending on how the crystals are cut, they usually produce an electrical charge when compressed in a specific direction or along a specific plane. For these reasons, piezoelectric sensors can be very small and very accurate. When someone is standing still or walking slowly, his feet spend more time touching the earth than in the air.

But when jogging or sprinting, his feet spend less and less time on the ground. The faster he runs, the less time his feet spend in contact with the surface under them. The second metric, and probably the most fun to play around with, is vertical leap.

The shoes measure this by calculating time spent in the air, and it turns out this is pretty effective. It doesn't matter if you lift your legs, leave them straight, or kick out your feet David Lee Roth-style, your vertical leap stays the same.

Finally, the shoes gauge quickness by measuring steps per second. This seems simple, but it remains a little fuzzy in my head. What about stride length? It's enough to know that if you simply run faster, you score higher. That said, after playing a couple of games, I found having only these stats a little underwhelming. It just didn't feel like much.

Worse, the shoes didn't integrate well with my Fuel Band. Whatever Fuel Points my shoes awarded me didn't get added to my total on Nikeplus. To complete the circle, I had to wear my Fuel Band on the court, which I hate doing. I tried to show off my fancy new toys to my fellow players, but they too seemed unimpressed. I got more than a few snide remarks: "How much does this cost again? After a couple of weeks, however, I started to warm up to the Hyperdunks.

By paying close attention to my stats while fiddling around with how I jump , I managed to increase my vertical leap by almost two inches — just by changing the way I leave the ground. Small enough to keep in your pocket as you complete your gym routine, it's Bluetooth-enabled and holds about 10, songs. Best for Kids:. Lasting up to 26 hours on a full charge, it features music, video streaming, a few games, and and alarm.

In This Article Expand. Our Picks. What to Look For. Why Trust Verywell Fit? View On Amazon. Pros hour battery life 32 GB storage capacity Bluetooth-enabled Multi-functional Lightweight and wearable. Cons Too feature-heavy for some Expensive. Cons Not Bluetooth-enabled Not rechargeable. Best Splurge: Apple iPod touch 7th Generation.

Cons Very expensive Too feature-heavy for some. Pros hour battery life Bluetooth-enabled Compact and lightweight Wearable with an armband Sweat-proof. Cons Limited 8 GB storage capacity. Cons Expensive. Pros Waterproof up to 6. Cons 4 GB storage capacity hour battery life Limited control. The 9 Best Swimsuits of , According to an Expert. Not wearable Interface tough to navigate. The 9 Best Workout Headphones of View On Walmart.

Pros Fun, kid-friendly design hour battery life Supports videos and games Easy-to-use interface. Cons Not Bluetooth-enabled. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback!

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