The RS-Computer was one of the first running shoes to record a run digitally. Puma's archive says it grew from Armin Dassler's wish, in 1984, to use new technology to help athletes. Dassler asked his sports-science adviser, Dr Peter Cavanagh, to make the company a technology leader, and Puma developed the shoe with Cavanagh and the University of Erlangen.
It was built on Puma's new Running System, now known as RS, whose Multiplex IV midsole combined four components with different physical and chemical properties to absorb shock and control motion. A computer in the chunky heel module recorded distance, time and calories, and runners connected it with a 16-pin cable to an Apple IIe, Commodore 64 or IBM PC to read the data. Cavanagh recalls a launch at the Athletic Club in New York in spring 1985; it is often dated 1986. The Verge notes that adidas's Micropacer of 1984 also measured runs, though without a computer link.
It was not well received at the time. In December 2018 Puma reissued it as 86 numbered pairs, with an accelerometer, Bluetooth, USB charging and an app in 8-bit style, and the RS line went on to the RS-X.