Google: The Talking Shoe That Tells You to Exercise
Google, after launching Google Glass, introduced a “talking shoe” to the world. It’s a regular sneaker equipped with a microcontroller, accelerometer, gyroscope, pressure sensor, speaker, and Bluetooth chip. When connected to a smartphone, the shoe can vocalize its activity status in real time.
This talking smart shoe features a sports theme. Sensors located throughout the shoe collect motion data and deliver playful voice commentary. It can also connect with a mobile app. If you’ve been sitting too long without moving, the shoe might say, “What a boring time, you need to get up and move.” For athletes wearing these shoes during competitions, their Weibo followers can receive real-time updates like speed data. Moreover, the shoes can be programmed to develop unique personalities — they can even become chatty comedians to keep you entertained while walking alone.
Lechal Navigation Smart Shoes: Never Get Lost Again
Indian-developed “Lechal” smart shoes connect via Bluetooth to a smartphone map app and vibrate to indicate left or right turns, helping wearers avoid getting lost.
Connected to a phone via Bluetooth, Lechal uses navigation apps to guide users. Like other wearable navigation devices, it provides feedback through vibration motors and can also track steps and calories burned. The shoes and insoles are washable, but the electronic module must be removed before washing.
Beyond navigation, Lechal can also function as a health tracking device. It counts steps, tracks calorie consumption, creates interactive training plans, and reminds you to grab your phone if you forget it. Built-in sensors allow you to start or stop navigation with specific foot movements. Additionally, when you approach landmarks or walk near interesting sites, the smart shoes will vibrate to alert you.
Both the Lechal shoes and insoles use rechargeable lithium batteries. A USB charger is included with the product, providing up to three days of power on a single charge.
Satellite-Positioned Smart Shoes: Follow You Wherever You Go
Satellite-positioned smart shoes can help prevent the elderly, children, and people with cognitive impairments from getting lost. They also meet the needs of tourism, transportation, and high-risk professions.
The magic of these smart shoes lies in a navigation chip embedded in the sole. Each pair has its own QR code. After downloading a client app on your phone and scanning the shoe’s QR code, the phone can connect with the smart shoe. Once connected, the client can track the wearer’s location anywhere. These are called “maps you can wear on your feet.”
“These smart shoes are not only comfortable and safe, with excellent waterproof, pressure-resistant, and anti-explosion properties, but they also offer positioning accuracy within 3 meters and a standby time of 5–7 days.” More user-friendly still, just like a phone, when the battery level drops below 20%, the phone app will issue an automatic alert.
Kids’ Smart Shoes: Shoes That Report Your Child’s Movement
An ordinary-looking kids’ shoe with a chip discreetly placed in the heel, connected to a mobile app — that’s the basic setup of the YunDuo Kids Safety Shoes.
According to the makers, the shoes use GPS + base station technology to provide accurate positioning, displaying the child’s movement trajectory on the parent’s phone. This not only gives parents peace of mind but also allows them to review and analyze their child’s routes. For example, if a child takes an unusual route to school, the system will issue an immediate warning.
“Worrying about a child going missing is a major concern for many parents, so solving this problem has broad appeal,” said the creative lead. Launching these shoes is not only a response to social issues but also a bet on the commercial potential of smart footwear — and a way to reshape traditional views of what shoes can do.