NTT's energy-generating shoes spotted without any sign of style

For shame. We know good and well engineers can concoct energy-generating garb that actually looks good enough to wear, but evidently those fashion-minded gurus weren't hired for this project. Granted, we have all ideas the image you're quizzically staring at above is NTT's first go at a pair of power-packing sandals, but there's clearly a good ways to go before these things are cute / safe enough to wear on the streets. Might we suggest shoving all that hardware inside of something? The "all hanging out" look just isn't working here.

[Via TokyoMango, image courtesy of AFP / Getty]

[Commoner @ Oct 20th 2008 10:09AM]

*cough*Prototype*cough*

[J @ Oct 20th 2008 12:15PM]

Yeah really. C'mon Engadget, that's ridiculous to mention seeing it's a prototype. I mean, it's probably not even a protoype yet. C'mon.

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Oct 20th 2008 6:09PM]

Cough*nodatesontheweekend*cough

[iEye @ Oct 20th 2008 9:47AM]

Energy crissis averted... now only if the average person was not fat and out of shape... :-(

[Anthony @ Oct 20th 2008 11:18AM]

No kiddin'. You've got to walk to power that auto hotdog feeder strapped to your head (or whatever useless piece of crap you're carrying around).

65+% of all Americans are overweight. This blog's read by more than just US people, but we're the ones sucking down all the juice.

[Tim @ Oct 20th 2008 5:40PM]

Well, the fatter they are, the more force exerted by a step . . . now if only they took a step.

[Mario @ Oct 20th 2008 6:49PM]

Socks and sandals oh noes!!!!!!!!!!

[Andrew @ Oct 20th 2008 9:50AM]

Pfft, that shoe totally looks like a new Toyota Prius...

[Valicore @ Oct 20th 2008 9:51AM]

Score, I'm totally gonna buy a pair of these to wear to the airport next time I fly!

[Andy TGD @ Oct 20th 2008 10:06AM]

Amusingly, as long as its not a bottle of milk for your baby or a laptop, they'll probably just wave your through.

[Peter @ Oct 20th 2008 5:01PM]

good luck getting through security!

[Mike10010100 @ Oct 20th 2008 9:51AM]

I'm guessing because of the tubes it uses air movement to spin a turbine?

[John R @ Oct 20th 2008 10:52AM]

yes, must have an air bladder in the sole of the shoe. so it goes whizz-squeak-------whizz-squeak as you walk down the road.

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Oct 20th 2008 6:05PM]

It's actually not air, according to the FDA rejection, it's mercury swishing through those veins...

[randall bennett @ Oct 20th 2008 9:53AM]

I think the larger fashion faux pas is socks with sandals. *shudder.*

[JStro @ Oct 20th 2008 10:00AM]

+ pinstriped dress pants = *shudder* x 2

[Muhammad-Oli @ Oct 20th 2008 10:10AM]

Pinstriped dress pants that are tucked into the sandals...

[Jake Tobak @ Oct 20th 2008 10:27AM]

I wouldn't want any bare skin near that contraption, so maybe socks are OK just this one time.

[Amerist @ Oct 20th 2008 11:32AM]

Imagine if we had to see his feet though. A lot of people dislike looking at feet.

[Christian Ritchie @ Oct 20th 2008 12:13PM]

And DARK socks, even worse!

[lowdef @ Oct 20th 2008 12:14PM]

however there is an apparently staggering number that DO infact like looking at feet among other things while online...

[j_g_puff @ Oct 20th 2008 9:55AM]

They appear to be using air, compressed by the action of walking, to turn a tiny turbine. This seems primative, excessively complex (in terms of tiny, moving parts) and stupid. What's wrong with piezoelectric soles or ferrous rods moving past coils as the user swings its leg? Both of those things can be integrated into the shoe, and both require far fewer bits to actually work.

[Chris @ Oct 20th 2008 1:28PM]

The rods could slide up and down the flat part of the shoe. Like back and forth with a coil towards the heel. Thats a really good idea.

[chrisaroz @ Oct 20th 2008 10:09AM]

Well count me out, I can't wear sandals to work.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 20th 2008 10:21AM]

I quite like the looks actually, but I will buy them only if they will power a separately sold stun gun or a weapon grade laser.

[Romequez @ Oct 20th 2008 11:15AM]

These shoes will definitely impress the TSA folks.

[ianlee74 @ Oct 20th 2008 11:36AM]

@iEye - The more weight, the more potential energy... For once it pays to be heavy.

On a more serious note... I do a lot of backpacking and have been researching solar methods of charging batteries while on the trail (5-10 days at a time). If this were working and embedded in a pair of hiking boots it would be a much better solution than solar since I imagine its much more efficient and still works at night and in poor weather conditions. And if it shorts out and gives you a little shock every time you step then that's motivation to keep pushing along ;)

[SirPhunkee @ Oct 20th 2008 11:46AM]

You know it's badass because it's got the plumbing for watercooling. Now all it needs is some blue LED's and a 4" widescreen monitor that straps to your toes.

[Esat Dedezade @ Oct 20th 2008 2:13PM]

Nice avatar, simple, yet effective :)

[Ashvala @ Oct 20th 2008 1:01PM]

Nice sandals, where did you buy them? Sears??

[Dan @ Oct 20th 2008 1:30PM]

This is like L.A. Gear Version -2.0

[RichardBronosky @ Oct 20th 2008 1:42PM]

Give these shoes to dads with infants and you could break our dependence on foreign oil. I walked my 3 month old around the living room for the entire duration of 4 [vice] presidential debates and Saturday Night Live the past few weeks. It sure seemed like a waste of energy. (Not that I think my children are a waste, but pouring that much energy into sleep.) It would have been cool to have been able to power my TV with all that pacing and rocking.

[xcise @ Oct 20th 2008 2:28PM]

personal generator. i loved that.
no more battery outs for ipod...

[corgilabsG @ Oct 20th 2008 3:59PM]

add 15 of those to each mattress in Las Vegas and I think we have our world energy problem solved......

[loosely_coupled @ Oct 20th 2008 5:16PM]

Woohoo! unlimited energy for "L.A. Lights" shoes.. Come on, YOU remember right?

[Bouillestfu @ Oct 21st 2008 8:51AM]

Imagine if the entire Riverdance crew had a pair! We could power North America!

[Seamus Dubh @ Oct 21st 2008 6:56PM]

Two words, "Still" "Suit"

[mikelinpa @ Oct 22nd 2008 10:25AM]

A fluid filled bladder under the full foot would act as a cushion, like the gel innersoles. It could serve two purposes, and the peizo-electric thingie could still be added to generate even more power.

[mikelinpa @ Oct 22nd 2008 10:25AM]

RichardBronosky,

I totally agree with your "pacing with the baby" comment. Been there too! If I had a watt of electricity for every time I walked & sang my daughter to sleep... Now that I think about it, I did. I generated it in static electricity due to dry air heat and carpeting. How shocking!