In 1985 Back to the Future starring Michael J. Foxx was released. An international hit, many remember Marty McFly going to back to 50s in the Dolorean. Many also remember McFly’s shoes that self-laced.*
10 years in the making, in 2016 Nike released the long anticipated Nike Hyperadapt 1.0, which have “embedded laces that electronically cinch at the press of a button.” These are the self-lacing McFlys that are meant to change the market.
According to Nike, “The Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 is the payoff of significant research into digital, electrical and mechanical engineering. Powered by an underfoot-lacing mechanism, the shoe proposes a groundbreaking solution to individual idiosyncrasies in lacing and fit preferences. That means the undue pressure caused by tight tying and slippage resulting from loose laces are relics of the past. Precise, consistent, personalized lockdown can now be manually adjusted on the go.”
The HyperAdapt 1.0 was released in the market for $720. The technology, still too expensive for wide consumption, are more than just a fancy solution to shoe tying. They can give athletes the edge in fastening their shoes while in competition. Secondly, the could be incredibly useful for individuals with impaired motor conditions.
*Nike did release actual 1985 McFly replicas dubbed the ‘Back to the Futures’ (or Airmags) in 2016 to 89 lucky charity lottery winners. Unlike the Hyperadapts, these shoes were not released to the market.
Sources:
https://www.wired.com/2016/09/nike-self-lacing-design-hyperadapt/
http://news.nike.com/news/mark-parker-adaptive-lacing-nike-plus
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/nike-raffles-back-future-self-tying-shoes-n660336
