iShoe promises to detect balance problems before it's too late

There's plenty of devices out there designed to keep folks from falling over, but this so-called iShoe developed by some MIT researchers takes a slightly different tact, with it promising to detect balance problems long before a person actually falls. That's apparently possible thanks to some sensor-laden insoles that measure the pressure distribution across as person's feet, which can be offloaded onto a computer and analyzed with the aid of a special algorithm the researchers have created. Eventually, they say the system could let doctors catch balance problems in their early stages and take the appropriate action, or even notify family members if a person falls, although that latter bit doesn't exactly seem very optimistic of them. No word on a commercial release just yet, but the team is apparently moving steadily towards one, with it currently conducting trials and recently having snapped up a $50,000 grant to help cover start-up costs.

[BrianB @ Jul 16th 2008 7:02PM]

The technology bar owners were praying would never come.

[Conor Maher @ Jul 16th 2008 7:04PM]

Its like Wii Fit for geeks! :D

[Ayman @ Jul 16th 2008 9:39PM]

I was thinking wii would start making Wii Shoes for Golf, Soccer, Boxing, racing, running....

[Ridgecity @ Jul 16th 2008 9:49PM]

Of course Nintendo's Wii Fit does the same thing for $100 already.

[David @ Jul 19th 2008 2:45AM]

I believe Wii Fit is Wii Fit for geeks.

[Joy-Vincent Niemantsverdriet @ Jul 16th 2008 7:12PM]

What's with all the 'I' stuff...

[geoffsy328 @ Jul 16th 2008 10:47PM]

iDunno

[yode @ Jul 16th 2008 7:13PM]

iStupid

[Lucretius @ Jul 16th 2008 7:48PM]

Yes. Yes you are.

[Kyo @ Jul 16th 2008 8:30PM]

more like iLatitude

[William Hartmann @ Jul 17th 2008 12:47AM]

iBangedyourwife :)

[Boarderwoot @ Jul 16th 2008 7:14PM]

I long for someone to come up with something creative for once instead of calling everything iThis and iThat... unless every company is actually a subsidary of Apple, in which case, this would make sense.

[Paul Dullford @ Jul 16th 2008 8:40PM]

I strongly agree.
Personal rules for acceptability of the prefix lowercase letter "i":
1) the product is Apple-related.
2) the product is connected to the Internet (in which case the prefix is acceptable because "i" could stand for Internet).
This product does not meet either standard. I'd give it a grade of "F-e" -- "fail, epic."

[jason @ Jul 16th 2008 9:18PM]

apple wasnt the first to use "i" as a prefix ja know.

the linksys iphone has been around since '98

[Ignatius @ Jul 16th 2008 9:35PM]

Well, we could always go back to e-crap. I dunno, I think I'd prefer to iCrap. Getting tired of seeing Apple's influence in every single commercial product.

[Ayman @ Jul 16th 2008 9:45PM]

iSomething ... eSomething...why bicker over some silly letters... lets make a new one that goes with todays technology W for wireless wSomething
... yes this will catch on perfectly....then people will revolt and then we'll have the iSomething Classic

[Darwin @ Jul 16th 2008 7:16PM]

tact:"consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense"
tack:"the heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails"

I had to look that one up to be sure.

[vdogg89 @ Jul 16th 2008 7:17PM]

ugh i remember those horrid Dell laptops

[SnowB @ Jul 16th 2008 7:17PM]

OK, I give up.

The phrase is "take a different TACK". That's TACK, as in SAILING.

You guys over-use the phrase so often, the least you can do is get it right!

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/tact.html

[Ed @ Jul 16th 2008 7:47PM]

Before it's too late... And you fall over?

[Dillon @ Jul 16th 2008 8:13PM]

I don't get it... so this thing will tell me when I'm going to fall over they say... does that take into account balance after alcohol consumption? What if I happen to trip and fall over a rock? Does it have a built in flux capacitor to help me avoid ever even walking near the rock?

I don't know guys, I'm pretty sure flux capacitors aren't real. This seems like a whole lot of lies and slander...

[John @ Jul 16th 2008 8:17PM]

Isn't there already a device to tell people when you've fallen over? I seem to remember something about "Help! I've fallen over and I can't get up!"...

[joe blow @ Jul 16th 2008 8:47PM]

Mac users aren't able to master the transmit button on those.

[Fozzy Bear @ Jul 16th 2008 8:52PM]

those dawgs in that pic are fugly.

[Ayle @ Jul 16th 2008 9:15PM]

Sigh... "i" has become the new "e"

[Coral @ Jul 16th 2008 9:51PM]

iTripped

[Ayman @ Jul 16th 2008 9:51PM]

Hahaha...
"Hello Mrs. Smith, this your husband Doctor, Your Husband just fell, thank you." or "I estimate that you have less than 43 hours to fall on your a$$"

[Coral @ Jul 16th 2008 9:52PM]

iTripped

[Coral @ Jul 16th 2008 9:54PM]

Grr! Seems like every once in a while the comments system gets f*d up. >_<

Please low rank the dupe. I deserve it. XD

[granny down east @ Jul 16th 2008 9:58PM]

Back on topic, this could be the next big thing for chiropractors.

[Rory @ Jul 16th 2008 10:10PM]

Gesundheit!

[ebinroy @ Jul 17th 2008 12:25AM]

That's the first thing I thought of when I read the headline! I can't believe nobody else posted it earlier.

[%u258C @ Jul 17th 2008 12:27AM]

God save us all.

[waffles @ Jul 17th 2008 12:57AM]

Wow. thats the first time i have seen a 8600 thats not mine in like 4 years.

[brad016 @ Jul 17th 2008 2:38AM]

I have that laptop, Replaced it with my MacBook Pro just a few weeks ago because the wifi died, ya that my motiv for a new top-o-de line laptop, broken wifi, now I have Ubuntu stikers plastered all over it and use its *Massive* 60GB internal drive as network storage. I might chopp off the screen and VNC into it with my iPod Touch, It's a thought, one I shoud've probably kept to myself,
- Peace

[Idlemind @ Jul 17th 2008 9:53AM]

Geez.... Hire a foot model.....

[Woody @ Jul 17th 2008 12:12PM]

Way to come up with an original name you fricken retards.

[Rick @ Jul 17th 2008 7:31PM]

As already stated many times, the Wii fit would be the better and cheaper option. It shows that your balance is off, and then gives you the exercises, stretches and other activites to improve balance. Mine has greatly improved after 3 weeks and I didn't need a doctor to do it.

[golfer @ Jul 17th 2008 9:45PM]

~5yrs ago when I took a couple of golfing lessons at an indoor facility my instructor had a similar set - don't remember who made it. Placed them in my shoe and used it to monitor my balance during my entire swing. Worked esp. well to show me how off balance I was during my setup.

[Karen Stewart @ Jul 19th 2008 11:05AM]

It's a slightly diffierent tack, not "tact"... as in a sailboat tacking (zig-zagging) against the wind. I haven't used much tact, admittedly, in tacking on this comment, but I knew you'd want to know...

[Heya! @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:00PM]

....Or you could go see a physical therapist. They can test your balance AND help you improve your balance.