Studies show that an athlete crossing more than three time zones end up with a 60 percent chance of losing their game. Seattle based design firm Teague have been developing airline interiors for decades. Now teaming up with Nike, they have created a new concept cabin that could change the performance of athletes, by heightening their comfort during travel.
By only having to accommodate for 13 athletes, the extra space onboard allows for far more socialising, dining and recovery. What sets this apart from anything we may have seen before is the advanced technology available on board. The athletes' clothes contain wearable sensors, specially prepared meals are provided for a specific athlete's training regime, high tech toilets monitor if a player is becoming dehydrated, and power juices are made to suit a individual needs. It doesn’t stop there; when fully reclined, the seats allow for a seven-foot tall person to lie completely flat, while watching a break down of their games or ESPN highlights.
This idea is still very much a concept and hasn’t been taken beyond digital renderings. If it does take off, its potential goes beyond just increasing the performance of athletes - it could be used to boost the performance of other professionals or help people with disabilities that are also effected by long distance travel. Similarly, British Airways recently explored ways to monitor the wellbeing of their passengers with their Happiness Blanket.
Nike have been paying a lot of attention to technology recently. Last month they teamed up with AKQA to create House of Mamba, the world's first fully interactive LED basketball court.
Nike's Athlete Jet
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