Get Your Electric Kicks

By Sean Gregory

Finally, footwear gets smart. The new Adidas 1 is the first running shoe to adjust its cushioning levels automatically during a jog. With every step, a magnetic sensor in the heel measures the force exerted by a runner and transmits this data to a microprocessor under the arch. The chip drives a tiny cable system that adjusts the heel, which gets harder to cushion the blow when your tired feet are pounding the pavement and then softer to relax them while walking across the lawn. The shoe might also relax your wallet: the Adidas 1 will retail at $250 when it hits stores this winter. --By Sean Gregory