INNOVATIONSIdeas
we likeÉ
1.�
A giant-killing trainer
Euclid Chipchoge wore these shoes
when he ran the world’s first sub-2-hour
marathon, and they finally go on sale
this month. Their release was delayed, as
the World Athletics organisation wanted
examine the design before deciding they
were race-legal. The trainers rely on
carbon fibre plates, foam and ‘airbags’ –
Nike calls them Air Pods – to reduce the
energy lost when a runner’s foot strikes
the ground, quite literally putting a spring
in their step. Running pundits believe
the arrival of this shoe will see a series of
records tumble at the next Olympics.
Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%, price TBC
Nike.com
�2.
The lamp’s Second Coming
Dyson has a habit of making us
reconsider the mundane. In this case,
the Lightcycle Morph is a lamp that
continually tailors it’s light to your
age, atmospheric conditions, and
the amount of ambient daylight. An
infrared sensor turns the lamp on and
off as you come and go, and the app
offers a suite of usage settings (study,
relax, precision etc). Our desk lamp
doesn’t quite look the same anymore...
Dyson Lightcycle Morph, £500
Dyson.co.uk�3.
The return of the flip phone
Flexible screen tech has had a bumpy
start. Samsung’s Fold 5G suffered
durability issues and was promptly
recalled and relaunched. Now, Samsung
seems to have gotten over that hump
with the Galaxy Z Flip. Early signs are
promising, but there are concessions
to be made – it’s not water or dust
resistant. Ultimately though, it’s a hugely
desirable glimpse at what the future of
smartphones and tablets could look like.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, £1,300
Samsung.com