Holographic headset creates the perfect training experience for runners
September 2020
News
Runners know that getting the most from each run requires training with a partner who is slightly faster than you and pushes you to keep up. Unfortunately, in today’s world – and with longer-term social distancing requirements – finding the right partner and coordinating regular times and locations for runs can be difficult. But a couple of recent graduates from Lakeside High School in Seattle, Bill Gates’ alma mater, have used augmented reality to create an innovative solution to this problem. It’s called the Ghost Pacer.
The Ghost Pacer is a newly developed set of augmented reality glasses designed specifically for runners. With a patented optical system, it weighs just 90 grams and has the processing power to create a realistic avatar in 3D space. It works by projecting a holographic avatar that users can race against outdoors. Integration with the fitness app Strava allows users to race against avatars that replicate their friends’ paths and speeds from previous workouts, letting athletes train together virtually, even if they can’t physically run together.
“Nothing is a perfect substitute for running with another person,” says CEO AbdurRahman (AR) Bhatti, a former all-state cross-country runner himself. “But racing against a holographic avatar that you can train with anywhere at any time is the next best thing.”
AR originally came up with the idea while training solo for an upcoming cross-country season and being frustrated that he couldn’t hit his target times along his training routes. He realised that training was way more effective while running with others. Since aligning schedules with other people proved nearly impossible, he came up with the idea of the Ghost Pacer – a partner you can run with anywhere and at any time.
For the past three years Bhatti and Jensen Turner, the company’s CTO, have worked with a team of experts in technology and fitness, alongside a dedicated team of their high-school classmates to create Ghost Pacer. “This is a fitness product that implements mixed reality in order to add a competitive boost to each workout,” concludes Bhatti. “We like to think of the Ghost Pacer as being built for runners, by runners.”
www.ghostpacer.com
Further reading:
Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.
Read more...
Africa Automation Indaba 2026
News
A bold new chapter in Africa’s industrial evolution begins with the launch of the Africa Automation Indaba, set to take place from 13 to 14 May 2026 at the prestigious Radisson Collection Hotel in Cape Town.
Read more...
EtherCAT Technology Group holds another Plug Fest
News
Recently, the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) once again invited its members to a Plug Fest, this time specifically targeting developers and manufacturers of devices with Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE) functionality.
Read more...
BMG powers up at Nampo 2025
News
The BMG team was highly prominent at this year’s Nampo agricultural show, held near Bothaville recently. This prestigious event, which is one of the largest agricultural exhibitions in the southern hemisphere, is a highlight for manufacturers and suppliers of farming equipment, as well as for farmers, families and the entire community.
Read more...
Epiroc rocks youth development programmes
News
Epiroc is not just building equipment - it’s building futures. Through its dynamic internship and learner programmes, the mining equipment and services specialist is shaping South Africa’s next generation of skilled professionals, equipping them with real-world experience, industry knowledge and the confidence to launch successful careers.
Read more...
Schneider Electric drives innovation in Africa
Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric has officially launched its first Innovation Hub on the African continent, coinciding with the opening of its new regional headquarters in Midrand, South Africa.
Read more...
Schneider Electric South Africa certified as 2025 Top Employer
Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric is proud to announce its South African operation has been awarded Top Employer 2025 certification by a global authority in HR excellence, Top Employers Institute.
Read more...
100 years of safety leadership
News
DEKRA Industrial and its adult-based education and occupational skills training division, the Institute of Learning (IOL) will showcase a milestone at A-OSH 2025, as the company celebrates DEKRA Global’s 100 years of safety leadership.
Read more...
Drakenstein Municipality aces Schneider Electric’s Sustainability Impact Award
Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Drakenstein Municipality in the Western Cape has won a Sustainability Impact Award for Schneider Electric’s Anglophone Africa region, shining the spotlight on its unwavering commitment to sustainable leadership and its forward-thinking approach to ensuring a sustainable future for its coming generations.
Read more...
LH Marthinusen launches new industrial fan manufacturing and services factory
News
LH Marthinusen has launched its new industrial fan manufacturing and services factory in Ekurhuleni. THis is a major milestone for South African energy infrastructure growth.
Read more...
printer friendly version