While already popular in Clarks shoe stores across the UK,
QinetiQ's 3D foot gauge is finally making its way across the pond. Unveiled in three Boston Stride Rite locations, these trials are slated to lead to a more widespread release across the chain's 450 American locations, giving
shoe-wanting citizens "quick and accurate" measurements when sizing up. The contraption features six 3D digital cameras that scan the foot to provided "highly detailed length, girth, and shape data," essentially helping to ensure the best fit possible. Additionally, recorded 3D data can enable trend analysis, which would assist in designing future
styles and improving stock control. The optical ranging technology used in the device was actually derived from work done on the "detection of unexploded ordnance" for the UK's
Ministry of Defense. Although we're unsure how quickly these things will roll out nationwide, we're sure QinetiQ stands to make a hefty sum from its invention, as its current deal with Clarks yielded a whopping £4.6 million ($9.1 million) over in
England.
[Via
Gizmag]
posted Dec 7th 2006 2:16PM
While this is interesting, most shoe stores have long since stopped carrying shoes in different widths, and it seems that most designer shoe brands aren't even manufactured in more than one width. So what's the point?
I guess it could attract some tech-saavy customers drawn to the wow factor of the machines, but I don't think it's going to do much to help fit people's shoes.
Newbalance still sells custom width shoes and there area few others but I cannot remember the names of those companies.
i, for one, welcome our shoe sizing, 3d sensing, ordnance detecting overlords.
obligatory i know
seriously though, if this finds widespread acceptance it would be really nice, esp for ski boots and such where you cannot reasonably simulate the wearing experience by just walking around in them.
It wouldn't be obligatory if idiots like you didn't feel like writing it in every damn story. This isn't even a robot. This is clearly your first try, maybe you'll do better next time.
i think they already have something like this in the King of Prussia mall in PA...
what store?
No, no, NO!
England ? UK!
(England + Scotland + Wales + Northern Ireland) = UK!
I would have expected better from you, oh mighty Engadget!
If it doesn't display, the "?" should be a "does not equal" sign.
kinda useless--I don't think your shoe size changes everytime you go shopping...
quote: Additionally, recorded 3D data can enable trend analysis, which would assist in designing future styles and improving stock control.
what about my right to privacy? do they intend to just use my foot-size info without asking permission? they can have my foot-size info when they can pry my tubesocks from my cold, dead hands!!
uhm... Weird? I mean, I know my shoe size. It's written inside my shoe.
It's got to be better than using Xrays for fitting kids with shoes like they did in the 1930s - 1950s.
"Additionally, recorded 3D data can enable trend analysis, which would assist in designing future styles and improving stock control."
So, in the future, if I go into local shoe stores several times a week and measure my feet on said gauge, the stores might start actually stocking some narrow shoes? That might be worth it.
This is a great idea. I have a hard time finding shoes that fit.
Yeah, in England these things are used for sizing kids' feet.
The replacement for the xray shoe fitting machine?
http://www.smith-zimmermann.dsu.edu/Xray%20Shoe%20fitting%20machine.jpg
glacia - my thoughts exactly. More info on the shoe-fitting fluoroscope: http://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/shoefittingfluor/shoe.htm