Post: #1

http://nypost.com/2014/07/24/smart-shoes...ere-to-go/

You can do anything you want but don’t step on my Bluetooth shoes.

That’s what Indian startup Ducere Technologies has developed — the first smart shoe.

The smart shoes go for $100 a pair, and sync up — or pair —with the Google maps’ smartphone app and vibrate to tell users when and where to turn to reach their destination.

Need to turn right you will feel the buzz on the right foot.
Ducere was started in 2011 by two Indian engineers who had studied and worked in the US, according to WSJ.com and has grown to 50 employees in the city of Secunderabad.

“The shoes are a natural extension of the human body,” Krispian Lawrence, 30, co-founder and chief executive officer of the company told WSJ. “You will leave your house without your watch or wristband, but you will never leave your house without your shoes.”
Ducere had initially developed the shoes — with the name Lechal, which in Hindi means “take me along” — to help the blind who rely on walking canes.

While the cane can help the visually impaired detect obstacles, it cannot tell them which way to face or when to turn. “That’s where we come in and fill the void,” Mr. Lawrence said.

There are around 285 million visually impaired people in the world, according to the World Health Organization, and most of them are in India.

Post: #2

Smart shoes? Really?



WB the Indian chick, though.

Post: #3

I do lots of walking when I travel to unfamiliar places from time to time. These could be useful as I navigate my way through a city center.

Post: #4

(07-25-2014 04:11 PM)polymath Wrote:  I do lots of walking when I travel to unfamiliar places from time to time. These could be useful as I navigate my way through a city center.

Why can't you just use your phone?

After all, for the shoes to even work in the first place it must be paired with your smartphone.

Post: #5

I like how after initially developing these for blind customers, they realized any product associated with the word smart has a decent chance to become a status symbol among americans.

Imagine the revenue if these were "I-Shoes".

Post: #6

(07-25-2014 04:11 PM)polymath Wrote:  I do lots of walking when I travel to unfamiliar places from time to time. These could be useful as I navigate my way through a city center.

Might be more incognito, especially in places where you might not want to pull out a smart phone while looking like you don't know where you're going

Post: #7

I could see them used in an environment where looking at a smart phone is problematic (performance arts, running, tour guides, etc.). I wouldn't spend $100 bucks on them myself.

I can't fault the developers for marketing their product, I can think of several shoe companies who made good money doing just that over the years.

Post: #8

(07-25-2014 04:24 PM)game_ethic Wrote:  

(07-25-2014 04:11 PM)polymath Wrote:  I do lots of walking when I travel to unfamiliar places from time to time. These could be useful as I navigate my way through a city center.

Why can't you just use your phone?

After all, for the shoes to even work in the first place it must be paired with your smartphone.

I do use my phone.

However, sometimes I walk through neighborhoods where I would rather keep my eyes up and not look distracted by an expensive pocket-sized item that might encourage someone to jump me.

Post: #9

WB the female IRT

Post: #10

I thought you were going to be asking for advice on what shoes to wear at formal events or at work.

Christ.

Smart people will soon be people with some sort of technological implant that allows them to record where they've travelled on any given day, and not people with a bit of intelligence.

Post: #11

What a waste of computer parts.

Post: #12

(07-25-2014 03:28 PM)JayMillz Wrote:  

I'm surprised an Indian ad would show her prominent tattoo though.