Innovation on the move

Abstract

The goal of the ASICS- Innovation on the move project was to provide ASICS with more insight into their current innovation processes and provide them with recommendations on how these could be improved. A design project was executed to illustrate the strategic recommendations. This led to the design of ASICS Vibe. Vibe is a wearable device which provides the user with meaningful and more intuitive feedback based on data gathered by the RunKeeper app on the users smartphone. Vibe is especially designed for the recreational runner. This target group will most likely not buy an expensive running watch and gets all the needed information about their run from an app like RunKeeper. However, Vibe can give them real time feedback about their performance, and helps them to run with a healthy rhythm. Vibe can be seen as an extension of the RunKeeper app and will be an accessible and low cost wearable. Vibe uses vibrotactile feedback as well as visual feedback by showing different lightpatterns and colors. Increasing the running cadence is one of the simplest yet unknown ways to prevent common running injuries. Vibe supports runners in achieving a higher cadence by cueing them with vibrotactile and visual feedback. Without showing any data about their performance, these forms of feedback can cue the runner to run better in a more natural and intuitive way.