Pump action

Adidas's new intelligent running shoe has a moter that adjusts the heel's cushioning. Called the Adidas 1, the shoes features a sensor below the heel and a magnet under the midsole. The sensor gauges movement of the magnet (and therefore the compression of the shoe) 1,000 times a second. A microchip then adjusts th cushioning using a motor-driven cable system.

It sounds clunky, but apparently the boffins have their algorithms right and their air bubbles calibrated for soft landings and firm support when and where you need it. Adidas 1, EUR250,