A cutting-edge technology created by an American start-up makes it possible to train with a hologram. Weighing about 90 grams, the glasses with a 30-degree field of view and 1280 × 720 resolution could revolutionize standard running workouts around the world!
The designed glasses use AR, or augmented reality mode. This allows a hologram partner to appear in front of the runner, dictating the runner ‘s pace in real time. The image is visible only to the runner, who is wearing modern equipment. The same system is used, for example, during cycling training – the athlete is shown a special Zwift-style projection screen.
Ghost Pacer’s creators used a supercomputer to match the ultra-bright LED and high-resolution AR-mode display. The engineered optics and breakthrough design with custom peripherals allow for a comfortable workout and improve runner motivation. The glasses will weigh about 90 grams and will be only slightly larger than standard frames. The set is expected to be lightweight, comfortable and should not disturb the athlete in any way during training.
Modern goggles are also accompanied by a specially created application, which is to facilitate the use of glasses and develop personalized training. The program has thousands of running routes from all over the United States loaded into the system. The database allows you to race the major marathons and upload your individual distances.
The app connects to Strava, which allows access to routes from an individual runner’s account. This connection gives the athlete a chance to compete with friends who will share their results, even if they are not running at the same time. The program will record the speed and pace of a friend’s run and play it back as a hologram. Ghost Pacer personalizes each workout, saves it and creates an avatar based on it to motivate the user to improve their performance the next time they run the same route. The high-tech glasses can also be synced with Apple smartwatches and Garmin devices, which will continuously monitor the body’s condition during the workout.
The hologram is supposed to remotely replace real opponents. Thanks to this the athlete has a chance to increase his performance and break new records. Numerous psychological and social studies have shown that one of the main factors in increasing performance in sport is competition and motivation resulting from it. Both of these elements are integral to making sports appealing not only to spectators, but also to the athletes themselves.
Special settings in Ghost Pacer allow the avatar to be stimulated and matched with planned goals. The user of the glasses can freely program the system so that the hologram runs at a specific target pace, repeats the result of the previous run or systematically increases speed. This method is designed to motivate the athlete to overcome his limits and improve his performance during each run, even if only by a few hundredths of a second. Training in this way gives better results and has a stronger impact on the psyche of the runner. Additionally, the glasses can be used anywhere and anytime, which significantly increases the comfort of using the equipment.
The American company has not published the date when the glasses will appear on the market. It can be assumed that at first the technology will be available only in the United States. A number of tests and studies on the sports gadget will take place with the participation of professional athletes, who will be the first to be able to incorporate Ghost Pacer into their training. In the crowdfunding, the equipment was priced at about $199, but, as the company announces, the cost of one pair of glasses is expected to be $349. There will also be a PRO version on the market, which is expected to connect with smartwatches. Its price is planned to be $399.
Featured Image: Freepik
