Today,
adidas launched the ‘adidas lab’, the first in a series of innovation events
that will showcase adidas products of the past, present and future. We were
invited along to the first event which focused on innovation in football. We
were given the chance to test unseen products first-hand in a range of
high-tech interactive experiences.
From
its revolutionary Copa Mundial and Predator boots, to the iconic Telstar
durlast, the official match ball for the 1970 FIFA World Cup (all of which were
on display), adidas has remained at the cutting edge of football. The ‘adidas
lab’ celebrates adidas’ continued commitment to pushing the boundaries in
performance technologies, and provides a unique insight to the leading
sportswear company’s future journey.
The
‘adidas lab’ focused on four leading innovations; the miCoach Elite Team System
and the adidas Smart Ball, as well as the groundbreaking 630g kit and 99g boot.
As part of the ‘adidas lab’, we had access to ‘The Track’, a ground-breaking
real time data visualisation experience that tests footballing attributes on a
15m Astroturf track by measuring speed, work rate and skill across three
running challenges. As consumers take part their movement and vital stats
dramatically come to life on the screens as they run past.
Footballing
legend Zinedine Zidane said, “I have been working with adidas for 17 years and
throughout my career I have always known they have been leading the way when it
comes to innovation in football. The adidas lab shows how the brand is shaping
the future of football and is a great chance for fans to see it with their own
eyes.”
99
Gram Boot
adidas have taken the creation of lightweight boots to the next level with a new super light boot that weighs a mere 99g. The revolutionary boot has been rigorously tested with a prototype already out ahead of a limited number being made available to the public in 2015.
Ground-breaking
features of the 99g boot include a 1mm polyamide outsole which reduces weight
but has the rigidity to perform at the highest level, an extremely lightweight
upper layer made from a textile composite and a new unique stud layout to
ensure fastest possible movements in all directions.
630
Gram Kit
adidas
is changing the way football is played and this new kit is a vital part of
that. Released in 2015, a full adidas team kit will weigh just 630g, including
shirt, shorts, socks, shin pads and boots. The minimalistic vest-shaped top
layer will only carry name and numbering. Beneath this players will wear a base
layer that is fully integrated into the miCoach Elite team system.
The
shorts are made from a four way stretch breathable lightweight woven fabric,
while the shin pads are integrated into the lightweight compression sock. And
using a framed composite skin construction and a light weight outsole, the
boots will weigh just 99g each, making them the lightest football boots ever.
Adidas
Smart Ball
In
football, every touch counts. The adidas Smart Ball has been designed to
improve technique, power, spin and accuracy through automated coaching system. After three years of development, adidas has created a ball with in-built sensors that track its movement and feed the information back to the player through an app on their phone.
Smart Ball is set for release in 2014, but fans visiting the ‘adidas lab’ will have the chance to test it out with three shots against a giant interactive Wall that projects their impact and results immediately.
Adidas
miCoach Elite
This
new adidas product is the first system of its kind that uses physiological data
in real time sending it straight to a coach’s tablet on the side-line. The
system not only provides real-time insights during training, but tracks total
training impact, collects and manages data and is highly portable.
The
state of the art system measures everything from power, speed and distance to
heart rate, acceleration and field position, allowing key insights into player
performance and work rate, helping teams achieve and maintain peak physical
performance.
