Nike+iPod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nike+iPod Sports Kit is a device which measures and records the distance and pace of a walk or run. The Nike+ consists of a small accelerometer[1] attached to or embedded in a shoe, which communicates wirelessly with a receiver plugged into an iPod nano. iTunes software can be used to view the walk or run history. The kit was revealed on May 23, 2006 but for a short time was unavailable for purchase. The kit is able to store information such as the elapsed time of the workout, the distance traveled, pace, or calories burned by the individual wearing the shoes, and display it on the screen or broadcast it through the headphones of an iPod.
The kit consists of two pieces: An acclerometer with a transmitter that is mounted under the inner sole of the shoe and a receiver that connects to the iPod. Nike recommends that the shoe be a Nike+ model with a special pocket in which to place the device. Users who don't want to change shoes place the accelerometer in a cavity which they create under the insole of an ordinary shoe or attach it to the laces with a pouch or other means. The battery in the transmitter is not removable so the entire kit must be replaced when it expires.
In addition to the audio feedback provided by a generic male or female voice (user's choice), there are pre-recorded congratulations provided by Lance Armstrong and Paula Radcliffe whenever a user achieves a personal best (such as fastest mile, fastest 10K, longest run yet) or reaches certain long-term milestones (such as 250 miles, 500 kilometers). This "celebrity feedback" is heard after the usual end-of-run statistics.
On October 19, 2006, new features were added to the Nike+ website, including the ability to name runs. Forums were also added, allowing users to meet and challenge other runners, ask questions, and give feedback.
Privacy concerns were raised when graduate students T. Scott Saponas, Jonathan Lester, and Carl Hartung at the University of Washington discovered security flaws in the device that can be exploited to track the user.[1] [2] According to their research, the students discovered that the Nike+iPod transmitter gives off radio frequencies that can be read up to 60 feet away using RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification. During the test, students built a $250 surveillance device and integrated it with Google Maps, easily tracking the movement of the person wearing the Nike+iPod transmitter. Although no personal data is stored in the transmitter's chip, an RFID privacy concern was raised after the students were easily able to track the movement of the person, claiming that its tracking ability could be used for surveillance by scanning the data and linking it to a user's identity.[3] However, given its lack of location or direction, it is unlikely to afford useful data.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Nike+iPod raises RFID privacy concerns - CNET News
- Nike+iPod - official site at Apple's website
- Nike+ - official site at Nike's website
- Nike+ Wordpress Plugin
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