Nike + iPod Sports Kit
Nike and Apple, two of the biggest brands known to provide stylish products have collaborated to create a system that will keep count of your steps wile playing your favorite songs during your morning jogs. This highly fashionable system is known as the Nike + iPod sports kit.
This system comprises of one small accelerometer which you could mount in a pocket type cavity on the sole of the shoe. This accelerometer will gather the data of your walks and jogs and send the information through a wireless connection to a receiver that you will attach to your iPod Nano. Your iPod Nano will store the information it receives and when you get home, you could upload these information on line or in your computer for monitoring.
These made a fuss when it was first launched in 2006. Some people liked the product while a lot were unsatisfied because of some kinks with the system that needs improvements. But looking at the kinks, the improvements that most users or consumers are thinking of might not happen. To give you a clearer picture of what our speculation means, here are the pros and cons of the product that you might want to know.
Pros:
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Sleek, stylish and modern design that will match most outfits
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Pedometer doesn’t hang on waistband of pants so there’s not too much distraction when running
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No wires needed to connect the accelerometer to the receiver
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The accelerometer is small and light so you wouldn’t feel it that much
Cons:
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The receiver only works with iPod Nano. This system won’t work with other iPod, MP3 or MP4 models
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Since the accelerometer is supposed to be inserted to a depression on the shoes’ sole the system requires a special Nike+ shoes designed solely for the Nike + iPod sports kit
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The accelerometer’s batteries can’t be replaced. This means that when the batteries run out of juice, you’ll have to purchase a new accelerometer.
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The margin of error of the accelerometer is 10%
The whole Nike + iPod sports kit system is flawed. Although it looks fashionable and can really motivate you to work real hard in burning your adipose tissues, the very purpose of the accelerometer is not even close to perfect. For an accelerometer to be considered effective, its margin of error should be within 5 %. 10% is just to big of a margin of error especially if you are serious in monitoring your daily steps.
You could also be frustrated to find out that only iPod Nanos work with the system. So if you already have a different iPod model, you still won’t be able to use the system because you are missing one important component of the system which records your walking and/or jogging data.
It is also obvious that this is a money making scheme for both companies since the system is designed to work with a specific model of nike shoes. This means that even if you have a pair of Nike shoes, if they don’t have the slot for the accelerometer, it still won’t work. But in terms of this dilemma, the kinks have been answered by some other company by designing a pocket for the accelerometer. Which you could attach on your shoe.
The kink on the accelerometer though, only Nike or iPod can do something about it. Since you can’t replace the batteries, you will be forced to purchase a new accelerometer when the batteries run out. This is obviously a marketing strategy by the manufacturers to gather and earn more sales in terms of selling inaccurate accelerometers.
The most basic principle of design is to consider the function first before form. In this case, the designers of the sports kit may have committed a fault by focusing on the form too much rather than the function. The brands have also focused too much on higher sales volume than providing good service.
Using this sports kit is inadvisable if you’re a practical user or consumer but if you are someone who likes to look good before anything else and has the money for it, then go ahead and purchase your own Nike + iPod sports kit.