Nike unveils its futuristic running track
Anything that makes exercise more entertaining and engaging has to be applauded, and nike's latest innovation is a great example of fun and function
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'Nike unveils its futuristic running track', 311 Institute, 3 August. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/nike-unveils-its-futuristic-running-track/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Nike has constructed a pop-up arena track in the middle of Manila that it's calling the "world's first LED running track," that has a wall of LED screens all the way around that project an "Avatar" of your last lap so you can take yourself on in a virtual race.
Runners get lap by lap feedback so they can learn to run at a proper pace. It makes exercising look like fun... almost.
What this means for your organisation
Your past self becomes the rival.
Nike's track replays your last lap as an Avatar on a ring of LED screens. The runner competes against a known benchmark, not a stranger. Avatars have been in products since 2003 and are rated TRL 9, so the idea is ready to use.
Feedback after every lap changes behaviour.
Runners get lap by lap feedback and learn to hold a proper pace. Short, frequent feedback loops teach faster than a summary at the end. Any service that coaches customers can borrow this.
Physical spaces can be the product.
A pop-up track in the middle of Manila turns a brand into an experience people can try. Related tools, such as emotion tracking (wide use by 2027) and neuro-bio feedback (2036), could add body signals to the same screens. Treat them as options to test, not plans to commit to.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Where could our customers race their own past results?
- How quickly do we give customers feedback on what they just did?
- Which physical space could we turn into a live experience?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Anything that makes exercise more entertaining and engaging has to be applauded, and nike's latest innovation is a great example of fun and function
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
What future do you need to see?
Choose one to get started on virtual worlds and the future of your organisation.
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 3 August 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). Nike unveils its futuristic running track. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/nike-unveils-its-futuristic-running-track/
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