Coolest Inventions 2004: Sporting Life

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STEP LIVELY

Computers in your shoes? Believe it. A sensor in the new adidas 1 sneakers measures with each step how much compression you put on the heels of the shoes. Microprocessor-controlled cushioning then adjusts the heels' stiffness so they become more rigid on dirt trails, for example, and softer on pavement or when you're walking. In addition, you can set comfort levels with buttons on the shoes. The lithium-ion battery that fuels the system lasts about 100 hours.

INVENTOR Adidas

AVAILABILITY March 2005, $250

TO LEARN MORE adidas.com

GO STRAPLESS

These Nike swim goggles use disposable adhesive strips to stay in place and keep water out, even after a dive. An extra angled pane maximizes your field of vision without distorting the view, and--serious swimmers take note--they produce zero drag, so they're even faster than the naked eye. The medical-grade glue on the strips is engineered to bond comfortably with your flesh on one side and the polycarbonate lenses on the other. Still, putting the goggles on and taking them off can be a chore.

INVENTORS Rob Bruce, Dylan Van Atta AVAILABILITY Spring 2005, $25 a pair