The Man Who Biohacks Olympic Athletes: Electronic Tattoos, Self-Quantifying Contact Lenses, Flexible Electronics, Artificial Intelligence & More.

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Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.

I recently watched a fascinating video about sports technology in which Dr. Mounir Zok, who is the Director of Technology and Innovation for the U.S. Olympic Committee, delves into everything from electronic tattoos that read body signals to contact lenses that analyze fluid in the eyes for instant self-quantification.

In other words, this guy is the nerd who biohacks the jocks.

Dr. Zok, who holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, plays an instrumental and strategic role in bringing emerging technologies to Team USA. He is responsible for championing, setting up and running high-performance technology programs that increase the medaling chances of Team USA athletes at the future Olympic and Paralympic Games, including wearable technology, smart textiles and fabric, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence and cognitive computing.

And Dr. Zok is fluent in four languages. So he is officially one. Smart. Cookie.

In today's episode, we take a deep dive into the realm of advanced self-quantification techniques for athletes. During our discussion, you'll discover:

-How Dr. Zok measures the oxygen levels in his muscles…

-Why sweat and tears are the new goldmine in self-quantification…

-How an electronic, biodegradeable tattoo can be used to detect muscle and nervous system activity…

-The fascinating emergence of new contact lenses for analyzing fluids in the eye…

-Socks that can measure your blood lactate levels…

-Headbands that can prime the motor cortex for enhanced performance…

-How the US Women's Track Cycling team is using artificial intelligence to enhance training…

-How to strike a balance between the fine art and the nitty-gritty science of reading the body…

-Whether you need to be concerned exposure to excessive bluetooth or wifi radiation from self-quantification devices…

-And much more…

Resources from this episode:

Flexible electronics

Mounir's video about sports technology

The Halo neuroscience device

Do you have questions, comments or feedback for Dr. Zok or me? Leave your thoughts below and one of us will reply!

Ask Ben a Podcast Question

11 thoughts on “The Man Who Biohacks Olympic Athletes: Electronic Tattoos, Self-Quantifying Contact Lenses, Flexible Electronics, Artificial Intelligence & More.

  1. zxcompo says:

    Today, electronic equipment does not have time to develop behind its technologies. This can lead to a certain crisis if this crisis with electronic components is not observed now. Today, the demand for electronic components is much greater than their production.

  2. Justin Peter says:

    Great News! The work he is doing is really appreciable, he is prospering by both in his work and for his company. Many new products have a system like Siri or Alexa, it is high time to get one of this system other than mobile. To maintain this kind of automation system, you must have a good server, and you are looking for one then you can visit this website and get offshore vps. It is one of the best server company right now in the market, you will get good service from them. There are getting very positive feedback from all the customer. Have a good day!

  3. Cameron says:

    Hi Ben, i’m trying to find notes or a link to a body composition scanning / weighing device you mentioned (in one of the recent podcasts). I can’t remember exactly but you said it was to do with a mirror image and scan. Costs around $600 USD. Could you please pass on the company or link, i’d love to look more in to it. I own a gym in Australia. Love the podcast.

  4. Luke says:

    Hi Ben, love your podcast. Like Kevin I was wondering how safe these devices were. Have they been proven to be safe? Are they as dangerous as cell phones? Thanks

  5. Kevin says:

    This can’t be the best way to optimize performance. It’s not ancestral. Ben how dangerous are these unnatural techniques?

    1. I'm all about one foot in the ancestral living camp and one foot in the better living through science camp! Read my book at BeyondTrainingBook.com for more on striking balance between natural living and science!

  6. James Anderson says:

    This meant to be a comment for you Ben, but this is one of the first podcasts I’ve heard of yours that your guest has sounded smarter than you. Dr. Zok sounds like he is on the cutting edge of thus stuff that very few know much about. Too bad he isn’t allowed to share all of what he knows.

  7. Gary Daniels says:

    Very cool. My thoughts go to an electronic tattoo that can measure the amount of bioelectricity traveling along a specific energy meridian while I’m practicing Qigong; such that it would allow me to refocus my thoughts to enhance the effectiveness and therefore increase flow, for all practical purposes. Also as a former pugilist who elicits the “sweet science” (of boxing as well as martial arts) for training racers; I liked the thought process of the blend of art and science (using both my instinct and knowledge regarding the individual; as well as quantified data) for making coaching decisions. Thanks guys!

  8. Mike says:

    A modern day Sam Mussabini from Chariots of Fire fame.

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