Naturally, the plans have been kept under wraps, but according to the patent abstract: “The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.”

Woah, we don’t even need to go back to the future – it’s already here! Soon humans won’t have to do anything for themselves, not even waste time lacing their own shoes.

Things are very much still in the works (just look at the ‘prototype’ below) but Nike does have about 4 more years – til 2015 - to get it right.

Get a very rough idea of what they’re talking about here:

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