Iverson, Watch Out!

It looks like the "Intelligent Knee Sleeve" from several years ago morphed into an elbow sleeve that basketball and "netball" players can use to help develop their shots. The research behind this started at the Austrailian S&T arm known as CSIRO; we've talked about them before.

This sleeve provides audible feedback to the user as it undergoes mechanical stresses -- in other words, each movement provides a sound. For sports that require a precise and repeatable motion (jumpshot anyone?) the sleeve can be used as a training aid. Earlier applications of the technology were used on knee sleeves to assist users on "landing" after jumping -- probably a little more of a stretch in my eyes. If anyone remembers the presentations from CSRIRO back in 2002-2003, they compiled a bunch of gruesome sports injuries which their research would eventually prevent -- I never saw so many people in a room squirm in their seats in unisom.

We'd love to hear from anyone who has actually used these sleeves as training aids -- it is an interesting concept, but how well does it work?