Intel has joined forces with ESPN at the X Games, which returns to Aspen today. By integrating a tiny, low power Intel Curie module into snowboards (that they announced at CES earlier this month), Intel will help athletes analyze their performances to the most minute details.
Steve Holmes, the Vice President of Intel’s New Devices Group, said that the module not only “captures motion based information like acceleration, spin, altitude, and GPS,” but also calculates “in-air rotations, jump height, and force on landing.”
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At the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 5th, Intel announced global partnerships with several major sports brands to develop devices that capture real-time data with motion-tracking sensors, allowing athletes to adjust their training regimen, providing immediate feedback for coaches, and enhancing viewing experience for fans.
This will involve Intel working with Red Bull Media House and Replay Technologies to expand the digitization of sports in multiple platforms in 2016, focusing on instant performance feedback using the Intel Curie technology.
“Intel will work with Replay Technologies to transform viewing experiences for sports fans on broadcast, in the stadium, and at home,” Holmes explained. “Digital sports captures entire games in 3D from nearly every conceivable angle.”
As wearables become a staple in the sports market, Intel struck strategic partnerships with New Balance and Oakley to integrate motion-tracking devices in shoes and eyewear as well.
New Balance’s Digital Sport division will use Intel’s RealSense technology to scan runners’ feet and create custom, 3D-printed midsoles for its running shoes. Holmes said that the two companies also plan on developing a new generation of sports watch by the end of 2016.
Oakley and Intel together have developed the “Radar Pace,” an eyewear with a voice-activated coaching system that provides real-time performance analysis and personalized recommendations. “It analyzes what you’re doing in the moment, not after you’ve done it,” Holmes said. “Immediate feedback reduces injury and overtraining.”
The “Radar Pace” fuses premium sportswear and smart technology, hinting at the future of the consumer sports market. “Brands like Oakley and New Balance bring decades of knowledge of athlete apparel while Intel brings technological innovations,” Holmes explained. “By working together, we can improve athletic performance and change the landscape of competitive sports.”
This change that Intel wants to make happen begins with the 2016 Winter X Games.