Approach of a model for the interaction between athlete, sports equipment and environment

Abstract

For the interaction between athlete, sports equipment and environment there are general characteristics which are important to consider during the product design process of performance oriented sports equipment. The aim of this study is to describe these aspects of the athlete-sports equipment-system and to get a model for the interaction between athlete, equipment and environment. The model comprises the athlete himself, his activities, the sports equipment and environment. Furthermore the subjective criteria in the model, perception, emotion, status symbol and trend-setting, are of interest. Some examples will illustrate the model. This approach can be used to assist the designer of performance oriented sports equipment and thus to support a systematic product design process in sports. © 2006 Springer-Verlag New York.