Students invent tracking device that “tells” runners when to replace shoes
Posted January 15th, 2007 at 4:00 PM by Kevin McGinn
Section: Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Gadgets & Acces., Miscellaneous
How do you know when you have to replace your running shoes? Well … when they “tell” you to, of course. At least, that’s the idea behind the concept called the “Stridekick”.
Todd Peavey and Jim Biggins, MBA students at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, have conceived a product that will allow consumers to track their shoe’s mileage. The Stridekick will be a small, disposable clip that will attach to the shoelaces to track the distance that a particular pair has traveled.
The average shoe should be replaced after about 350-500 miles. [For more information on when to replace your shoes, check out “When to ‘kick’ your old ‘kicks’”]. Stridekick will alert users when they have reached a certain mileage mark (pre-set by the users). Although we recommend that everyone keeps a training log and track their mileages, the Stridekick is very exciting as it will deliver a critical reminder to replace your footwear and prevent injury.
A runner’s shoe is the most important piece of equipment he/she will buy. Running is considered to be a high impact sport. Each foot bears a significant amount of body weight with each stride. The repeated relief and pressure on the joints is known to cause injuries starting as low as the foot and reaching all the way to the back. Proper footwear is one way that an enthusiast can reduce the risk of developing such injuries. The Stridekick may be one more piece of hardware that runners can use to keep their bodies from falling into unneeded injury.
The two students (whom The Final Sprint will be interviewing later this week) came up with the idea for the Stridekick while taking a course on technology entrepreneurship. Under the tutelage of Professor Brian Abraham, Peavey and Biggins were able to utilize the curriculum to the fullest. The class centered on understanding current technologies and finding ways to apply them to available market niches. The school is noted for having an innovative approach to educating their students. Babson College clearly has another accolade to add to their already well-respected reputation.
In order for the students to produce a prototype the National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) and the Lemelson Foundations have given them a grant of $11,500. The grant money will be used, in addition to creating a working model, for the logo design and packaging. The core attributes of the product include a display, force sensor, and micro controller. The outer casing will be small and made of plastic.
The tiny device has already gained the attention of running shoe companies. The idea is patented, and will therefore require manufactures to acquire the proper licensing to utilize the technology. Those interested in obtaining licensing, and also investors looking to endow the students with capital, are welcome to contact the two undergraduates.
Peavey can be reached at 978-395-1493 and Biggins at 781-790-1478.
Research sources and for more information: [Telematics Journal], [Engadget], [Swik.net], [The Raw Feed]
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Tags: footwear, impact, invention, Jim Biggins, old shoes, patent, replace shoes, running shoes, running sneakers, shoes, Stridekick, students, technology, Todd Peavey, wear and tear
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