New Products from Nike

NIKE's taking athletes into the digital age with a new high-tech sports gear division - called nike[techlab - where athlete-inspired innovation and technology collide. Several years in development, nike[techlab combines a top-notch design staff with some of the premier engineering minds in technology. nike[techlab pushes the limits of sports technology to create cutting-edge tools for the sports and fitness consumer.
"Essentially, Nike has stuck a wire in sports," said Clare Hamill, Vice President of Nike Equipment. "Keeping the athlete in mind, [techlab will pioneer products that fuse sports and technology for the benefit of today's digital athlete."

The first of five new products from nike [techlab is the Personal Sport Audio (PSA) Play 120, A collaboration with S3's industry-leading Diamond Multimedia division - makers of Rio Audio - Nike [techlab's sleek PSA [Play 120 combines the best of digital audio technology with extended memory features. In addition, the durable design anticipates the unique demands of professional and everyday athletes alike.

The PSA[Play will be followed by four other new products scheduled to arrive in retail stores this holiday season. These additional precision-performance products include real-time speed-distance and heart rate monitoring devices, as well as an industry-leading digital compass and handheld sport communication products (see below for additional product details).

Nike's entry into the sport technology market will take the company into new retail channels, including Best Buy, Circuit City and other major consumer electronics outlets. In addition, nike.com will support this new line of sports technology products with content development - including tailored music and motivational messages - and integrated marketing efforts.


Personal Sport Audio (PSA) Play 120
Nike has teamed up with digital audio industry leader S3 (which currently holds more than 50 percent of the portable player market) on the world's first PSA[Play. The player's solid state design means no skipping, reduced size and increased battery life. In developing the PSA[Play, Nike designers were inspired by the non-"techy" user who wants ease-of-use and excellent sound quality. Down the line, only Nike can provide complete apparel and accessory solutions for integrated wearability and sport functionality.



Nike SDM[Triax 100
SDM (Speed Distance Monitor) Triax 100 is a truly revolutionary training tool. This patented technology uses an instep mounted accelerometer to provide the user with an extremely precise measure of speed and distance. Patented by Dynastream, an engineering firm located in Calgary, Alberta, the Nike SDM[Triax 100 is more than 97% accurate. The SDM system allows runners to design more efficient, effective workouts, while measuring and recording their splits on an unmarked course. The SDM[Triax 100 retains all the features of the award-winning Triax running line: ease of use, ergonomic fit, and advanced training functions.

In 1999, the Industrial Design Society of America awarded the Triax watch series with the highly coveted "Design of the Decade Award." Nike Triax has been a catalyst for design innovation within the Nike Equipment division and the inspiration for the new [techlab products.



Nike HRM[Triax 100
The HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) Triax 100 leverages the success of Nike's running watches by retaining the now famous Triax chassis and core functionality and integrating across modes. With a special focus on simplicity, novice users can strap on the chest transmitter and instantly get an ECG accurate heart rate measure. Advanced users will appreciate a host of sophisticated heart rate training functions.



Nike ACG Ascent Compass
The ACG (All Conditions Gear) Ascent Compass is a sophisticated back country monitoring tool. Mountain climber Brent Bishop and athlete focus groups all over the world helped [techlab designers define the ultimate feature set. The end result combines ergonomics, altitude, compass, weather and thermometer functions in a tough but comfortable wrist piece that is smaller than the competition, easier to use, and darn fine looking. New technologies and mountain know-how join forces to improve accuracy, reliability and ease of use.



Nike PSC[Communicate
The PSC (Personal Sport Communications) Communicate is a two-way radio that delivers portable sport communication like no other product before it. Built for backcountry reliability, it has a two-mile radius and is packaged in an ultra-compact design that's re-enforced for durability. Snowboarders, hikers, bikers and boaters can all receive regular weather alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's network of 500 broadcast stations. Like the PSA[Play, the PSC Communicate will have a complete line of accessories to ensure integrated wearability and sport functionality.

About S3's Diamond Multimedia Division
Following its acquisition of Diamond Multimedia and the transfer of its graphics chip assets to a joint venture company, S3 has been re-launched as a digital media company focused on creating products and partnerships that help build the digital home. Combining significant financial assets with a strong technology portfolio that includes the Rio family of digital audio players and the HomeFree series of home networking solutions, S3 is uniquely positioned to capitalize on high growth opportunities in the rapidly converging Internet and consumer device markets.

About Dynastream Innovations
Dynastream Innovations Inc., located in Cochrane, Alberta, is a world leader in the research and development of proprioceptive or "smart" devices using wireless and inertial technologies for consumer, commercial and industrial markets. Dynastream's web address is www.dynastream.com

Stephanie Oakes is a fitness correspondent for Discovery Health Channel, a contributing editor for USA Weekend Magazine and the LA Times, and appears on NBC's 'Today in New York'. She can be reached at soakes@beststuff.com.