I was the lone writer embedded in the UX/design team for the groundbreaking Nike+ GPS app (which has since evolved into the ‘Nike+ Running’ and now ‘Nike+ Run Club’ apps).
Our job was to explore everything we could to let runners (and non-runners, like me) enjoy running more. The result was an award-winning combination of geolocation + social media that had never been done before.
Pioneering things we got it to do:
• Nike+ GPS posted on Facebook (if you wanted it to) when you started a run, and then pumped audible cheers into your ears as you ran whenever a friend liked or commented on it.
• You could designate a favorite tune as a ‘Power Song,’ which would automatically play as you neared a personal goal or record to give you a mega-motivational kick in the butt.
• You could invite your friends to play Tag, and the app would instigate a frenzy of social media trash-talking when someone lost or was slacking behind.
• You’d get all kinds voice feedback about how you’re doing as you were doing it (not yet done at the time), then it would shower you with performance-based props via celebrities like Tracy Morgan when you finished.