Successful activity trackers are dependable, easy to use, and fit seamlessly into user's lifestyles. The reality of this leading to a future of 'smart tees' and other tracking enabled items is feasible, already realized by Google Glass (eyewear), Nike Fuelband / Jawbone UP (wrist wear), and a numerous amount of handheld devices starting with the pedometer and resulting with the iPhone.
Incorporating tracking devices into garments is slowly becoming a reality thanks to many school programs researching the subject as well as a bevy of online startups. Biosensors were incorporated into men's briefs in a study by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2010, enabling continuous biomedical monitoring outside of hospitals. Numetrex designed a bra built to open according to how your vital signs responds to a potential partner, and Delta Farm Press has investigated how polymers can similarly drape, bend, and feel like cotton in order to incorporate conductive fibers into apparel. While none of this is directly related to performance tracking at this time, the research involved proves that we're not that far off from investing in our first "smart tee."
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In the footwear market, when Nike announced their latest Flyknit running shoe without the Nike+ running chip that has been incorporated into most of their performance shoes since 2006 it was a sign of things to come. The brand is phasing out most of the footwear incorporated chips in favor of more social media friendly apps and the already successful FuelBand collection. Last year Under Armour launched the Armour39 activity monitor as apart of an "I WILL" launch campaign, poignantly imagining a runner in a skin tight outfit that can adjust its own color, temperature and soundtrack.
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Brands have taken the first few steps to incorporating trackers into apparel, but haven't quite found the perfect item. UA's Armour39 chest strap is great for tracking your progress at the gym, but it requires strapping a one size only strap to your body and powering up an app to use.
The miadidas enabled soccer jersey was great for tracking pro athletes on the pitch but not as easy to incorporate into daily life, and Nike's microchip footwear may have pushed product initially, but interest faded over time.
What matters is that brands have shown that they are ready to invest in the activity enabled market, we'll just have to wait and see who is first to debut a product to consumers.
Calvy Click is the Editor-in-Chief of Sneaker Report. When she isn’t writing about performance footwear and apparel, you can find her running around Manhattan to Rick Ross anthems.
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