openLangley

The Speedo swimsuit that Langley helped developed has made the list of Wired’s top 10 technology breakthroughs for 2008. Check it out here. What Wired said:

Michael Phelps. 2008 Olympics. Enough said. Phelps and others were able to log faster times because of Speedo’s LZR swimsuit. It blends new materials and a dose of NASA rocket science to boost the speeds of elite swimmers — legally.

Viscous drag on a swimmer can be as much as 25 percent of the total retarding force. But Speedo’s suit, with its ultrasonically bonded seams instead of stitches, low-drag panels and a mix of polyurethane layers, can cut resistance and help swimmers move through the water faster. It also has a rigid, girdle-style structure that helps position the swimmer’s body in an optimal position. Did it have anything to do with Michael Phelps’ amazing eight Olympic gold medals? Probably not, as nearly every swimmer at the Games was wearing a Speedo suit.

Outlook: We’re hoping at least some of the technologies in the LZR will trickle down to the consumer level so we can slice through the water at the Y.