KineticShift | Evolving Consumer

Get a Grip – a Tater Grip

This season has seen the “power” of baseball bats greatly reduced, at least in college, high school and little league as new regulations on bat size have taken affect. But one area that is still seeing forward development is in the “grips” – or more accurately the Tater Grip, which are now available nationwide at retail.

Tater Grip’s new patented, proprietary technology, ultimately a slide and shrink-to-fit installation system, allows ball players to custom design a bat handle label which is then visible through the slide-on, clear rubber grip.

Tater Grip comes packaged air-tight in a proprietary solvent which expands up to three times its normal size when exposed. When the grip is removed from the package simply slide the grip over the bat knob, and within a couple of hours, it forms and shrinks to the bat handle’s size.

(Video after the jump)

Continue reading Get a Grip – a Tater Grip

Bluetooth World Cup Kicks Off

Time for the world cup, but it isn’t football or rugby. It will however, likely change the playing field of technology, as it is the Innovation World Cup.

This week the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced that it is once again looking for ideas and prototypes in the areas of health care, sports and fitness, automotive, entertainment, and more, that use Bluetooth technology version 4.0, for this year’s edition of the Innovation World Cup (IWC). This competition is now in its third year, as the trade organization contest calls on developers, entrepreneurs and students to submit concepts for applications making use of the low energy feature of Bluetooth v4.0. Continue reading Bluetooth World Cup Kicks Off

Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride to White House

For the fifth straight year, wounded warriors will be welcomed by the White House as Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride comes to Washington, D.C. President Obama will visit with thirty warriors and their guests today, in advance of the official Soldier Ride events on Friday and Saturday.

“The recognition from our Commander-In-Chief for these men and women is beyond measure and we thank President Obama immensely for welcoming these warriors to our nation’s capitol,” said Steve Nardizzi, Executive Director of Wounded Warrior Project. “The President and First Lady believe very strongly in supporting our military families, and we are honored to be invited by them.”

This event follows another ride with former President George W. Bush, who hosted the Warrior 100k Mountain Bike ride at Lajitas Golf Resort near Big Bend National Park. The other VIPs were wounded warriors from OIF and OEF.

Wounded Warrior Project
Warrior 100K
George W. Bush Presidential Center

Reversing the Harmful Effects of Sunscreen

These days everyone preaches about sunscreen. Don’t go outside without it. You may even need it indoors if you’re near a window. But then there’s also bad news that comes from sunscreen.

Chemical sunblock using ingredients such as oxybenzone can be bad for you. Oxybenzone is found to increase the production of dangerous free radicals in the skin. It’s been found to harm or alter DNA, affect hormone balance and the production of thyroid hormones, cause early puberty in children, cause male infertility and potentially lead to breast cancer and skin cancers. Isn’t skin cancer what we’re trying to avoid with sunblock in the first place? Continue reading Reversing the Harmful Effects of Sunscreen

Evidence of How Apparel Can Help Performance

The jury may still be out on whether certain “rocker” shoes actually improve fitness, or whether any of those gimmicky infomercial machines actually do any good. But then there is EBA – or Evidence Based Apparel – a play on the traditional Evidence Based Medicine, a term used in medicine meaning to apply the best available evidence gained from scientific methods to clinical decision making.

The EBA clothing from Alignmed was five years in development, and it has the promise to improve performance, help wearer’s heal faster from shoulder injuries, prevent standard shoulder injuries that were once difficult to avoid and improve posture and balance, two essential components to performance excellence.

Among the new products from Alignmed is the Posture Shirt, which features a base material that has a specific four way stretch material, containing a combination of Nylon, Polyester, and Lycra. Sewn into this 4-way stretch material are strategically placed strips of non-stretch material called Neuro-bands.

This combines actually does improve posture, while helping take the excess load weight and stress off the cervical and lumbar spine, and at the same time increasing lung expansion for greater capacity for oxygen. This allows wearers to participate longer and with less fatigue.

Alignmed Evidence Based Apparel Official Website

Miura Golf Introduces Old-World-Quality Craftsmanship With New Line of Forged Irons

We like to report on the latest innovation and new technology, but sometimes the “old” way is still better. Miura Golf shows this in its video highlighting its Passing Point 9003 forged irons.

Creator Mr. Miura and his sons Yoskitaka and Shinei think of their forged clubs as “active machines” says Adam Barr, president of Miura Golf. As the video shows there is art mixed with the forging process in how the clubs are crafted.

Miura Golf Official Website

Zumbawear Collection Goes From Gym to Street

Is the just back from the gym look going to be big this year? Could be, at least if Zumba Fitness has its way. The company, which is the creator of the Zumba fitness-party workout, has announced that it has expanded its lifestyle brand with the launch of the 2011 Zumbawear Wonderland collection, which includes apparel, shoes and accessores for both women and men. The new line of attire is inspired by the exotic, high-energy music and choreography found in a live Zumba class.

“When you’re in a Zumba class, you are transformed – you feel energized, bold and sexy,” said Zumbawear Creative Director Melanie Canevaro. “We want our instructors and Zumba fans to enjoy these feel-good vibes all day – hanging out at home, shopping at the mall or partying at a Zumba class in a nightclub.”

Upcoming products will include the Z1 sneaker, a lightweight cardio dance shoe that will let users cut a rug or bust a move on the dance floor, as well as relaxed tees, hoodies and drawstring shorts. All of the clothing is designed to move and breathe while still retaining style that suggests the runway as much as the gym.

Zumba Shop

Shoe Shopping Goes Virtual

Here is a strange twist on buying shoes. Imagine going to the store, but not being able to find just the right athletic shoe. If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably heard, “we have more shoes online.” Well, rather than head to a computer you can head to the wall – as in the adiVERSE Virtual Footwear Wall, which is produced by adidias and powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and features 3D images of the shoes.

Popular shoes feature videos, product specs, game stats and even twitter feeds. Would-be buyers can add product to a virtual cart and check out via the store’s iPad. If the shoe is in stock you can try it on and walk out with it, and if not have it ordered and delivered.

Of course if you can’t try on the shoes, it begs the question why you wouldn’t just check out shoes online, but it is an interesting twist on the shoe store. Think of this as the merging of brick and mortar store with an online shop.

Connected Runners Hit the Ground Running With runens

Technology outsourcing and software product engineering company Ci&T has hit the ground running with its new mobile app for the Apple iPhone. Designed exclusively for the dedicated runner, runens is designed to be an easy-to-use app that enables users to connect and compete with a community of like-minded pavement pounding enthusiasts.

The concept behind the app is that “running is social,” and this connection can boost a runner’s motivation, making them go further and run hard to achieve goals. This is the latest app developed through Ci&T’s employee entrepreneurship program, which offers employees the opportunity to indulge their passion for technology, while still delivering innovative technology services to the company’s valued clients.

“As an avid runner, I know that lack of motivation can often be the greatest hurdle to getting out for a run,” said Marcio Cyrillo, Digital Evangelist for Ci&T. “But I also know that runners are driven by accomplishments, and I designed runens specifically so users could connect with other runners in their community and gauge their goals and achievements against these runners. I’m lucky to work at a company that allows me to indulge my passion so completely, and it’s my hope that the runens app will become as important to die-hard runners as their favorite pair of running shoes.”

This app promises a simple-to-use interface, where runens users can select and set individual goals for runs that include 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra-Marathon or Freestyle. They can gauge the time, distance and pace of each run, with built-in GPS functionality to pinpoint the exact location of the runner on a map; and share and compare their goals and achievements with other runners in their community in real-time, driving the motivation to run even in inclement weather or other harsh conditions. Time to get running and social.

runens on the Apple App Store

Wireless Gets AMPED Up

If you’re away from the office that can be a good thing, but getting out to nature – such as in a boat or RV – can be a real drag if you need to rely on wireless.

But AMP Wireless has announced a new high power solution for indoor and outdoor application for use in boats, recreational vehicles, buildings and more. The UA600EX High Power Wireless-N 600mW Professional Series USB Adapter provides extreme range for Mac or Windows computer.

The Amped Wireless UA600EX High Power Wireless-N 600mW Pro USB Adapter is the first of a full line of Professional Series high power indoor and outdoor WiFi solutions for users who require demanding WiFi performance and range for their Windows or Mac based laptops and desktop computers. The high performance, High Power Wireless-N 600mW Pro USB Adapters allows PCs and Macs to connect to 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n WiFi networks from extreme distances indoors or outdoors. The UA600EX will have a MSRP of $119.99 and an estimated street price of $99.99.

Amped Wireless Online Store

Near Field Communication Used to Track Sleep

This week iMPak Health announced the launch of its new SleepTrak, the first such product to use Near Field Communication (NFC). The enabled mobile health and wellness application will launch on Nokia’s Symbian platform, including the Nokia C7 Smartphone, where users can download the free app from the Ovi store.

“NFC and Cypak technology enable SleepTrak to bring many aspects of a professional sleep assessment session to the consumer market for a fraction of the price,” says Per Nathanaelson, iMPak Health President and CEO. “With iMPak Health’s provider expertise from Meridian Health, the SleepTrak data will be useful when presented to a trained medical professional.” Continue reading Near Field Communication Used to Track Sleep

AmpliVox Sound Systems to Come Through Loud and Clear for YMCA

This week AmpliVox Sound Systems announced that as part of its “Speak Up America!” public service initiative, the company would support the North Suburban YMCA of Northbrook, Illinois. As part of this commitment, AmpliVox will donate $15 to the NSYMCA for every megaphone sold between now and December 31, 2011.

We hear them loud and clear and AmpliVox CEO Don Roth noted, “We support the wide range of community services provided by the Y. AmpliVox is speaking up for all the teachers, community members and volunteers who encourage and inspire kids at the Y every day. This is a grassroots effort to support the Y’s work in the community.”

The “Speak Up America!” donation will help go towards the Y’s Strong Kids scholarship fund that enables financially disadvantaged families to participate in Y programs. Kudos to AmpliVox for speaking out and helping with this cause.

North Suburban YMCA Official Website
AmpliVox Sound System Official Website

HeathQuest On Station

There is no denying that kids today need to get out and get a little more active. And maybe putting them through some workout stations will be just the thing to get them on the path to better fitness. BCI Burke have announced a new initiative with its HealthQuest Fitness Stations.

Designed for ages 13 and up, HealthQuest Fitness Stations provide the tools and information needed to complete a total body workout for beginner, intermediate and advanced users. Each individual can work at their own pace and intensity, modifying the suggested exercises, circuits and workouts to suit their own needs.

These stations combine the advanced science of total body workout and conditioning technology with good old-fashioned playground fun. Each of the HealthQuest Fitness Stations includes four circuits addressing the elements of a whole body workout from start to finish. Separate workout stations address upper body, stretching and balance, core strength and cardiovascular exercises. Continue reading HeathQuest On Station