May 7, 2004
Microprocessors in Unusual Places
The New York Times has an article on the development of a microprocessor controlled shoe, which senses at around 20 KHz., and responds by adjusting the physical shoe parameters at around 10 KHz. How often you will have to change the battery in your shoe is not detailed. I keep telling people that embedded control systems are winding up in places that no one has anticipated. Very interesting development, and not too expensive either.
Posted by elkaim at May 7, 2004 1:19 PM"What we have, basically, is the first footwear product that can change its characteristics in real time," said Mr. DiBenedetto, who led the group that created the shoe, of its ability to adapt its cushioning as the wearer runs.
The shoes will have push-button controls, light-emitting diodes to display settings and an instruction manual on a CD-ROM that will advise wearers on, among other things, how to change the battery after every 100 hours of use.
Of all items of clothing, said Rob Enderle, a principal analyst for the Enderle Group in San Jose, Calif., the shoe is a logical one to be a focus of wearable technology. Unlike articles of clothing that must be washed or cleaned, shoes present a more stable place to add useful electronics, he said.
High-performance shoes, particularly those intended for athletic use, he said, have been augmented with an array of biomechanical enhancements, most of them involving compressed gases, shock absorbers and springs. But until now, he said, "I don't recall electronics being applied in shoes other than for lights."