The Feel Your Way SuperShoe product aims to spark a disconnect between users and their smartphones when traveling by foot. While smartphone owners are often glued to their screens when crossing intersections, the insoles actually tickle ones foot, indicating which direction to turn in.
In addition to taking away ones reliance on tools such as Google maps, Yelp and Yahoo, the SuperShoe is also encouraging people to get lost and discover new areas.
The SuperShoe provides directions by way of bluetooth, batteries and a microcontroller that are all connected to a smartphone application. Once a destination has been entered into the application, the foot pad becomes linked with the geographic course. To-do tasks such as grocery shopping can also be scheduled into the paths.
GPS Footwear Lines
The Feel Your Way SuperShoe Directs Users Via Smartphone Technology
Trend Themes
1. Smartphone-linked Footwear - Opportunity to disrupt the traditional footwear market by incorporating smartphone-linked features to enhance user experience.
2. Emphasis on Offline Navigation - Opportunity to disrupt the reliance on GPS and encourage exploration of new areas by emphasizing tactile navigation and limiting screen time.
3. Integrated Travel Planning - Opportunity to enhance the travel planning experience by incorporating to-do lists and scheduling into footwear technology.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear - Opportunity for footwear companies to innovate and attract new customers by incorporating smartphone-linked features to enhance user experience and promote exploration.
2. Travel - Opportunity for the travel industry to incorporate SuperShoe technology into their services, reinforcing the emphasis on tactile navigation and promoting exploration.
3. Smartphone Accessories - Opportunity for smartphone accessory companies to expand their product offerings into the footwear market, creating a new niche within the industry.