Google, Adidas, and EA Team up to Sell Insoles for Kicking, Playing, and Training

A smart insole jointly created by Google, Adidas and EA has recently been launched. The insole has a built-in Google Jacquard tag, which can use machine learning algorithms to track various body movement data of FIFA Mobile game players when they play football. Football enthusiasts can use this to practice their football skills in a targeted manner and improve their skills.

For many people, playing with the best football players in the world is just a dream. But now, a pair of insoles may make your dream come true.

Recently, Adidas releasedA smart insole called Adidas GMR.It measures a soccer player's passing, shooting power, distance and speed on the pitch, helping to improve the user's team performance in EA Sports FIFA Mobile.

Google's old technology is put into Adidas' new insoles

This smart insole was developed by Google, Adidas and EA.Powered by Google's Jacquard wearable technology.

The technology was previously only available on Levi's jackets and Yves Saint Laurent backpacks, and users can control their phones through different gestures on the jackets and backpacks, such as opening the music player or navigation.

This time, they incorporated the technology into the insole.It realizes the connection between the real world and the virtual game.

Users can bind the GMR insoles to their mobile phones via Bluetooth, and then all kicks and movements on the football field can be converted into achievements in FIFA Mobile.

According to official information, GMR insoles can be adapted to any shoe model. In essence, the Jacquard chip is integrated into the insole to identify the player's actual touch, shooting power, distance and speed, and then compile the data into feedback to EA SPORTS FIFA Mobile to improve the player's Ultimate Team score and game character ability, unlock various tasks in the game, and create an experience for players to complete game tasks in reality.

Players' sports data can also appear on various leaderboards, allowing them to compete with friends in real life. Moreover, places such as courts and even streets can become places for players to complete tasks.

Currently, Adidas GMR insoles are now officially on sale on the American shoe company's website, priced at US$40 (approximately RMB 280) a pair. They are also available in 24 other countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Machine learning algorithms analyze player movements in real time

It is understood that the Adidas GMR tag is embedded in the pocket on the insole, where a Jacquard tag is placed in the shoe that the user is accustomed to using, and a virtual chip is placed in the other shoe.

Jacquard tags track the user's body movements through machine learning algorithms.Google is able to interpret and analyze sports to such a complex level because it has collected a large amount of sports data from numerous football players and trained thousands of neural networks.

The Jacquard tag is equipped with a gyroscope, accelerometer and small processor, using artificial intelligence algorithms to distinguish specific movements in football.It can count kicks, batting speed, running speed and total distance run.

For Google, the data collected by the Jacquard tags, which can be used to identify quick turns and estimate the speed of the ball, is not tied to individual players, so users don't have to worry about privacy leaks.

To use the insoles, connect to the Adidas GMR app via Bluetooth and set it up to link with your FIFA Mobile profile.

Once connected, users will unlock exclusive adidas GMR events in FIFA Mobile, which will offer new real-world challenges each week, such as kicking a ball a certain number of times or driving a certain number of miles.

For avid football fans, this smart insole can take their football skills to the next level.

And for Google and Adidas, if they can unlock all that valuable player data in mobile games and make it available to the 265 million people around the world who play football, there could be an even broader market opportunity.
Such great sneakers, I really want to send a box to the Chinese national football team.

-- over--