Upcoming shoe gadgets v2.0

( ... continuing from the last blog )


Here are two more shoe gadgets that we might see in the near future :


The first one is the Embedded GPS – GTX Corp partnering with shoe manufacturer Aetrex are soon going to offer shoes that can be GPS tracked in real-time. Think about all the possibilities that will give us. The main customer target groups for the embedded GPS shoes are parents that would like to keep a track of their children. The technology can be also useful for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. You can keep track of the wearer’s location through an online portal. Scheduled to go on the market by the end of November, the shoes will be priced at $299 a pair.

The second gadget is a shoe device that can replace the white cane – Anirudh Sharma, a young researcher at Hewlett-Packard labs in Bangalore, India, has come up with a navigational tool for the blind. His device, named La Chal, will be built inside a shoe.

A vibrating feedback from the front, back or either side of the shoe could lead the way for a vision impaired person. A vibration on the front indicates they should go straight, a vibration on the right means they should turn right and so on. There will also be an obstacle detecting sensor that will work for up till ten feet away.

By utilizing an Android running smartphone application the user will be able to select his destination in Google Maps. After that it is only a matter of following the turn-by-turn directions.

While there is no info about when are we going to see it on the market, Sharma is planning to share La Chal’s schematics and application via the Aurdino community. Through a “Do-it yourself” project in Wikipedia, users would be able to make their own improves and updates on the system.

Hopefully this is what will bring the release date of the device closer!

Upcoming shoe gadgets

Everyone loves lightweight, comfortable shoes. However, what is the next step after you have created the perfect looking, comfortable sneaker? I know! Let’s beef it up with some gadgets!

In the next two blogs, I will bring to your attention couple of shoe upgrades that we'll see in the near future.

Let's start with the .....

Self-lacing shoes – Have you ever seen the movie “Back To The Future 2”? Well the shoes that Michael J. Fox was sporting there, might soon hit the market. Two different sources are coming up with a technology for self-lacing shoes.

The first is the well-known company “Nike”. According to their patented version “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.”

The second inventor is Blake Bevin, a California girl that came up with the project “Power Laces”.

It is interesting to see who will be the first to market the self-lacing technology. On a side note, my props go to Blake for the self-made prototypes, without having a multi-billion dollars company behind her back.

Solar powered future

The International Energy Agency recently estimated that by 2060 solar energy will account for more than half the world’s energy power.  IEA base its predictions on the fact that as the renewable energy technology improves, its price will decrease. 

"Photovoltaic and concentrated solar power together can become the major source of electricity. You'll have a lot more electricity than today but most of it will be produced by solar-electric technologies." says Cedric Philibert, a senior analyst at IEA.

As we move away from fossil fuel, towards renewable energy, the output of carbon emission will decline. Expanding our use of solar, hydro, biomass and wind energy will reducing the global warming effect and help stabilize the climate changes.

Stamp of Approval

A look into the future - Cybertecture Mirror

"Mirror, mirror on the wall - Who is the most beautiful of all?"

Well your mirror might not give you the answer to that question … just yet. However, if you are wandering what the local weather forecast is, or you want to check your Facebook status, then Cybertecture Mirror is just for you.

The Hong Kong based “James Law Cybertecture” came up with the idea of a mirror that can download apps, show the local weather, stream online TV, offer social network capabilities and display information about your health status. 

It comes with a wireless sensor that can calculate your body weight, fat percent and muscle mass. The users can interact with the mirror through remote control, a smartphone application or onscreen virtual touchpad. 

The 55 pounds 32 x 20 inch mirror has integrated video and audio ports, in addition to the built-in stereo speakers. Its price starts from $3,600 and you can order it in black or white framing.

RoChair

ROTA Mobility, a California based company, designed an alternative way of using the wheelchair.

In their RoChair model, instead of pushing the rims like on a standard wheelchair, the disabled person will use a front mounted lever to propel itself forward. Utilizing rowing motions, the driver will feel less strain on his hands, shoulders and wrists. Steering is done by turning the lever left and right. 

The RoChair has 8 gears, disc brakes and under-the-chair wheels for easier transferring of the driver. The device is priced at $4,980.

Traffic problems, Begone!

With the oil reserves getting depleted and motor companies shifting towards green energy, an all-electric car seems like the best choice for the future. That is good, because reducing the CO2 emissions is always better for our environment.

However our population is constantly growing. More people equal more cars equals more traffic. Now, imagine what the roads will look like 50 years from now with 3 billion more cars on the way.

The people from GM though about it and came up with a concept car that will be all-electric, space efficient and has an auto-pilot function.

Enter the EN-V

The concept car of the future is powered by a lithium-ion battery. It will use gyroscopic sensors to balance the car’s weight and tilt. EN-V will have a communication system. It will use sonar to detect other cars, cyclists, and pedestrians. Some of its other gadgets include –GPS, cameras and car-to-car communication, which combined with the sonar, will allow the car to drive all by itself. Another neat function the car will have, let’s you use a smartphone to program your EN-V to park itself and return to you when you need it.

GM will start testing the car soon in Tianjin Eco-city, China. I guess we won’t see the car on the market for the next 10 years. Nevertheless it is good to know that we have a trump card in our sleeve, to thwart the ever-growing traffic problems.