A Chip in Your Sneaker, Not in Your Mouth

May 26, 2006 — -- In several weeks, Nike and Apple will release a sport kit that includes a chip that joggers can implant in their sneakers that tracks workouts and is readable on Apple's iPod portable music player.

Through a sensor, the chip tallies a runner's pace, distance and how many calories he or she has burned -- and then sends the information to an iPod worn by the jogger. After a workout, the iPod must be docked so that it can show the peaks and lows throughout a run. Users can also compare fitness levels on nikeplus.com, the company's new social networking site.

"We don't think running will ever be the same," said Nate Tobecksen, media relations manager at Nike.

Fitness-focused gadgets are an increasingly popular move among companies as they attempt to cash in on the booming diet and fitness industry. Along with Apple and Nike, video game companies and even McDonald's have found ways to make fitness more fun.

The Nike+iPod Sport Kit kit costs $29, not including the cost of one of Nike's seven sneaker models, which start at about $100. Also, the technology only works with new iPod Nano models (a 4-gigabyte unit costs about $250).

"The concept was given to us by athletes who told us that 75 percent of athletes listen to music when they run," Tobecksen said.

Fries and Fitness

Other products target those who don't want to leave the comfort of their homes. The video game "Dance Dance Revolution" ($40) for the Playstation or Xbox helps people burn calories through intense dance competitions.

There's also the GameBike (approximately $1,500), a plug-and-play video game controller that allows the exerciser to ride a stationary bike in a virtual world.

Also, McDonald's is offering Yourself!Fitness Workout DVDs to people who purchase one of their Active Meals. Four workouts come in the set and you can collect them all -- like a grown-up version of the toy in the happy meal.

Will These Gadgets Help?

Ideally, these gadgets will help kids and adults move from fat to fit. It won't be easy -- about 127 million U.S. adults are overeweight, according to the American Obesity Association. This is a dramatic change from just a few decades ago.

"Back in the '50s, we weren't at home on the couch in front of TVs. The world of food wasn't as aggressive at advertising to people of all ages. Now society gives incentives to buy more," said Samantha Heller, a dietitian at New York University Medical Center and a contributor to Health magazine.