Tidbit from 2014: smart shoes
Walkers and joggers don’t have to restrict themselves to the new smart watch; now they can also order a pair of smart shoes—from India. Called Lechal (translation: take me along) and described as the world’s first haptic footwear, the shoes make strides for mobility. You’ll be able to navigate more easily, tag locations, even keep track of exercise routines. How? You have to download an app that syncs with Google maps and conveys instructions via your footwear—the vibrations indicate direction—and lets you, in turn, provide instructions with the help of simple foot gestures. An interactive charger and Bluetooth-enabled insoles are included. The shoes were designed by India-based Ducere Technologies, founded by Krispian Lawrence and Anirudh Sharma. Lawrence, who studied at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, worked in the U.S. for many years, while MIT alum Sharma was at HP Labs before he teamed up with Lawrence.
Given Lechal’s potential, the two partners—and their growing company—are now working with L.V. Prasad Eye Institute to evaluate the product’s effectiveness as a device to help visually impaired people.
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