Swimming with the OtterBox...

More about smaller ideas or…Swimming with the Otterbox…

 

One of the really nice products that I encountered at CES was the OtterBox. I have two iPods. A 60 gig and a 2 gig nano. Both need to lead very protected lives. The nano is a later generation model with a case that is only slightly more immune to getting trashed through normal wear and listening.

 

But the 60 gigger lives a very, very sheltered life. The reason being that as pretty as the case is, it seems to magnetically attract scratches, so for the moment rather than traveling with me and being really valuable, it occupies a position plugged into some powered speakers and doesn’t really ever move other than to sync up the new music that I buy from time to time.

 

The nano has taken a beating. I take it to the gym all the time, and find myself using it as a defense mechanism. As in a defense to the dreadful music that gyms insist on play thinking that they are somehow making their members happy. (or maybe that’s why no one over 30 goes to 24 Hour Fitness?)

 

When I was at CES, and talking with Kristin Golliher, a Public Relations Executive with OtterBox, I realized that the OtterBox folks were really on to something. They had set out to build cases that would product your iPods and similar devices from getting trashed.

 

But what really got me thinking was the fact that OtterBox has built a case that is:

 

· Waterproof, dustproof, dirtproof, sandproof, and drop-proof
· ClickWheel protected by a thin membrane which remains fully functional through the case

 

And if you get their H2O Audio waterproof headphones, then whammo, you really have a killer solution for the monotony of swimming laps.

 

And so, why is this important to me, real simple. Over the last year I have managed to work myself into great shape, but not without a fair amount of wear and tear to my body. Hence the desire to find way to get as much or more exercise, but to eliminate the pounding that comes from the traditional gym workout.

 

The idea that I could swim laps listening to great music playing in my head is like a dream come true.

 

So far, I am hardly Mark Spitz, but I really like the idea, and again, think this is an idea that combines the best of a handful of ideas, i.e. great design, protection for a valuable asset, and excellent entertainment, while you are doing something that while fun, really gets boring and dreary after a short period of time, but like any form of meaningful exercise is good for you.

 

So, in a moment, I am going to be in the pool, and I am going to be humming a few bars while I swim with the OtterBox.