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shoes posts

eSoles record foot pressure, not Inner City Pressure

by Darren Murph posted May 14th 2009 at 7:43AM

The city is alive, the city is expanding, and we all know that living in the city can be demanding. But when lyrics from Jemaine and Bret just can't get you through the day, there's always eSoles -- er, something like that. At any rate, the aforesaid startup has developed specialized shoe insoles that are laced with pressure sensors (11 to be exact), all of which can communicate wirelessly with a nearby cellphone in order to provide real time analysis of one's step. In theory, these devices would enable athletes such as bikers and golfers to better understand how to position their feet in order to maximize performance. Founder Glen Hinshaw has stated that he hopes to have the product available in trial form by July, with full commercialization happening later this year. The pain? Around $300 to start, but he's hoping to bring that closer to $50 when production ramps up.

SecuriScan shoe scanner could make travel safer, security lines shorter

by Darren Murph posted Oct 20th 2008 at 10:03PM

Huge shocker here: removing your shoes at airport security causes massive headaches and makes the wait longer for everyone. Now that we're all good with Captain Obvious' latest headline, let us point you to one prototype that's looking to solve said dilemma. SecuriScan, which has been developed by Professor Wuqiang Yang at the University of Manchester, would theoretically be able to "detect and pinpoint suspicious objects instantly," all without requiring passengers to remove their kicks. Better still, the system uses electric and magnetic sensing instead of a radiation source, which could also address safety concerns while helping you get where you're going more quickly. Moving forward, Yang hopes to develop a more advanced and realistic prototype for testing, and just in case you were doubting this guy's determination, he's also investigating a handheld version that could hastily screen abandoned luggage or packages.

[Via Physorg, image courtesy of ChangeAirportSecurity]

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

by Darren Murph posted Oct 20th 2008 at 9:32AM

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]

NTT says one of these days these boots are gonna charge your gadgets

by Tim Stevens posted Oct 16th 2008 at 10:07AM

Phone battery constantly dying as you wander from place to place, moving in and out of reception and leaving it straining to find a signal? You aren't alone, and if you're not the sort to wear a conductive dress (in public, at least) you may want to keep an eye out for some new kicks in the works from NTT. Their soles are filled with water, displaced as the wearer walks and forced through a tiny turbine. Current prototypes generate 1.2 watts of electricity, enough to power your iPod as you strut, but by the time these things hit production in 2010 the hope is to more than double that to 3 watts so that you can charge up your mobile, too. Sounds fantastic, but we're a little unsure about running wires down our pants to get that juice where we need it.

Airun Plus shoes include speed and weight sensors for your mega-intense workouts, dude

by Joshua Fruhlinger posted Jul 15th 2008 at 9:31PM

The latest word on effective cardio exercise is that you should go for short, intense intervals rather than waste hours on the Stairmaster. Shorter workouts, you say? Good with us, but what about the gear to go with all that? The Airun Plus shoe is designed for the HIIT exerciser who wants to track his BMI and caloric burn rates all the while controlling shoe weight. The built-in Smart Technology controller records BMI and calorie burn results while the weighted insoles can be added or removed based on your needs. Weight and speed information comes from a sensor in the right shoe, while the entire kick is designed with shock absorption and safety in mind. Ready to buy? If you're serious about your body, these things will run you £112.50 ($224) and they come all the way from England.

Hello? McFly 2015 Nikes to be resurrected as Nike Hyperdunks

by Joshua Fruhlinger posted Jun 29th 2008 at 10:03AM

Remember those cool Nike high-tops that Marty McFly wore in Back to the Future? The ones that laced themselves and you wished you had a pair just like them? If so, listen up: Nike is releasing the Marty McFly 2015's as the Nike Hyperdunks. They won't lace themselves, unfortunately, but will be made of Nike's super light-weight materials. They'll be shilled by Kobe Bryant in black, and we'll be surprised if the Back to the Future roots of these shoes will be shown the light in order to keep the cool young'ns interested, but we all know the truth behind these bitchin' kicks. Hoverboard sold separately.

Zappos hires robots to take over inventory floor

by Darren Murph posted Jun 28th 2008 at 5:33AM

Just think -- Zappos has been shipping out shoes .9284 minutes after you order them for years with mere humans running the show. Now, your new kicks will likely be at your doorstep moments after you think of ordering them. Said e-tailer has just completed implementation of Kiva Systems' Mobile Fulfillment System, which will see "a fleet of Kiva's mobile robotic drive units and inventory storage pods" hit the company's Shepherdsville, Kentucky facility. The move is being made to keep its distribution system in tip-top shape even with the addition of new products outside of just footwear, and unless some of those mechs grow a mind of their own, we'd say things should pan out just fine.

[Via CNET]

Custom Illuminated Confusion Nikes light up the streets, your life

by Darren Murph posted May 17th 2008 at 2:03PM

Personally, we'd prefer slipping our feet into the WiFi-detecting Nike Dunks if given a choice, but it's hard to argue with the smooth factor bundled with the highly customized kicks shown above. Dubbed Illuminated Confusion, the shoes feature a pattern print with "neon green light-up lateral sides that either blink or glow." The lighting on each shoe gets powered by a single AAA cell, and you'll even get a free "custom box" with you order. And considering the $400 price tag and two to three week wait time, we wouldn't expect anything less. Vid after the jump.

Continue reading Custom Illuminated Confusion Nikes light up the streets, your life

Heelys shoe hates your eyes, loves your Xbox 360

by Paul Miller posted Oct 19th 2007 at 6:10PM

We think Heelys could've saved on a few design dollars and just scribbled "mistake" across the bottom of its new Gamer collection of inexplicably Xbox 360-inspired kicks. Maybe that's just us.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

PSA: Crocs aren't just ugly, they're dangerous

by Ryan Block posted Sep 10th 2007 at 1:12AM

Crocs, not unlike Uggs before them, are prime candidates for footware we'd just as well have everyone put back in the closet, especially now that the Japanese National Institute of Technology and Evaluation has apparently issued a public warning regarding the safety of wearing the offensively ugly plastic shoes on escalators. Supposedly some forty people in Japan have been injured wearing the shoes on escalators, including a five year old girl who is said to have lost lost three toenails and suffered a broken toe when her ugly ass shoes got caught in the escalator. Please, Crocs, think of the children -- and everyone else's greater sense of aesthetics.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

1GB Nike shoe USB flash drive disregards trademark

by Darren Murph posted May 18th 2007 at 8:32PM

While we've seen the swoosh used on questionably licensed apparel before, we're fairly certain that a one-off Japanese e-tailer isn't selling a svelte Nike USB flash drive before the company itself with due permissions in place. Nevertheless, users can (well, for the time being, at least) pick the 1GB training shoe USB drive for their Mac or PC, and while it doubles as a keychain or hangs on tight to your Kensington lock port, the real utility is stored beneath the toe. Admittedly, it doesn't look half bad (click through for more proof), but we'd recommend plopping down your ¥2,480 ($20) real quick like before the legal teams return on Monday.

[Via EverythingUSB]

Continue reading 1GB Nike shoe USB flash drive disregards trademark

Good Vibrations shoes pack built-in rumble feature

by Darren Murph posted Feb 15th 2007 at 10:32PM

Now that you're packing a cellphone with a vibrating touchscreen, have glasses that rattle your brain if you try to get a bit of shut-eye, and nod your head to the beat of your rumbling headphones, why not put a little shake in your shoes, too? The cleverly named Good Vibrations might sport a website that was probably built in Marky Mark's heyday, but the kicks it sells claim to be therapeutic in nature. The thick-soled shoes feature a non-stick grip, on / off switch, and a rechargeable battery that reportedly provides around five hours of feet shakin' therapy. Designed to massage away the aches and pains throughout the day rather than after the damage is done, these unisex slip-ons are constructed with Spandex, lined with suede, and just might cause fits of laughter if you're the ticklish type. The Good Vibrations shoes are strangely available in just four sizes, leaving most of you with a bit too much (or too little) room inside, but for just about 60 bucks, the fun factor here is probably enough to put aside the fact that they aren't likely to fit.

[Via AmericanInventorSpot]

Transformers bust out of Nike Free shoes

by Darren Murph posted Jan 27th 2007 at 12:01AM

Just a few days ago, Transformers aficionados were likely elated to see the Optimus Prime iPod speaker dock, and now we've got one more option for you to add to your collection. Not too long after learning a few secretive details about the Nike Speed+ watch, now it seems that Convoy and Megatron are busting out of a pair of Nike Free 7.0 kicks, ready to rock and lace up their enemie. As the first two members of the Transformers Sports Label series, these items are actually half scale renditions of life-sized footwear, measuring around 6-inches in length but reportedly featuring all the same qualities of an actual Nike shoe. Interestingly, the two bots even rock a diminutive pair of Nike Free shoes themselves, but there's no word on if wearing these things actually gives you similar powers. Nevertheless, the inseparable set should start shipping by May, and while the standard edition will set you back $58.99, you might as well spring for the "Collector's Grade" for an extra four bucks.

[Thanks, Yu-Ming]

GTX Corporation unveils GPS-equipped Xplorer shoes

by Darren Murph posted Jan 26th 2007 at 6:45PM

It seems like Sayo Isaac Daniel has some serious competition coming at him in the GPS shoe market, as GTX Corporation is unveiling its latest geo-tracking footwear at next week's World Shoe Association trade show. The questionably styled Xplorer kicks pack an internal GPS transceiver, built-in battery that's good for "several days" before needing a recharge, and a sleek Dual GeoFencing feature that ~~keeps your offspring on a leash~~ gives parents peace of mind. Shoe owners (read: paranoid guardians) can utilize the firm's "internet portal" in order to pinpoint limited boundaries in which the wearer can, um, Xplore, and if the person's shoes ever leave the pre-set area, a phone alert will be immediately sent to a pre-selected individual to warn them. No pricing or release information was readily available, but if we had to guess, we doubt your kiddo will be begging for these next school year anyway.

[Via NaviGadget]

Inventor crafts GPS-equipped shoes, includes a panic button

by Darren Murph posted Jan 2nd 2007 at 7:30PM

We've seen some fairly interesting means of keeping track of your mischievous kids (or pets), but Sayo Isaac Daniel's latest invention takes top honors as the ultimate paranoid parent's must-have gizmo. Aside from the obvious tracking uses, Daniel's GPS footwear is actually intended to beam out a distress signal to a pre-selected recipient if the wearer hits a certain panic button. The GPS-equipped kicks would present the location of the violated victim to whoever is deemed that person's hero, and would hopefully give the rescuer enough time to arrive and lay down the law. Also, the patent explains an "alarm toe switch" that would be inserted within the shoe in order to give customers the ability to sound their alarm (intentionally or otherwise) without making any sudden movements. Reportedly, a company dubbed Quantum Satellite Technology plans to start selling the shoes "in March for around $350 per pair," but the GPS signal emanating from your soles won't do you much good if your kidnapper ditches your footwear before tossing you in the trunk.

[Via The Raw Feed]