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India’s Answer to Google Glass: The Smartshoe

blogs.wsj.com

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Re: India’s Answer to Google Glass: The Smartshoe

#11

Post by kumarm »

Certainly interesting idea. The writeup seems odd though.

one: Title is off. Second: "The shoes sync up with the Google maps smartphone app and vibrate to tell users when and where to turn to reach their destination."

Unless they worked with Google its not possible as out side Google Maps you have no way to notify your shoe about the turn (Through bluetooth).

Re: India’s Answer to Google Glass: The Smartshoe

#12

Post by alokdhari »

I am not sure how is it an answer to google glass !! It navigates and counts the number of steps and roughly the number of calories the wearer burns. Now if we consider it as an answer to google glass then is it an answer to smart watch and astronaut's suits(I consider them wearables as they are expensive and loaded with tech). End of the day, title's a bit too misleading I would say but none the less a good invention and I might even go back home and buy it.

Re: India’s Answer to Google Glass: The Smartshoe

#13

Post by CaRDiaK »

alokdhari wrote: post #12

I am not sure how is it an answer to google glass !! It navigates and counts the number of steps and roughly the number of calories the wearer burns. Now if we consider it as an answer to google glass then is it an answer to smart watch and astronaut's suits(I consider them wearables as they are expensive and loaded with tech). End of the day, title's a bit too misleading I would say but none the less a good inventio…

Possibly click bait. I think India's Answer to Wearable Computing would have been a little more fitting.

Re: India’s Answer to Google Glass: The Smartshoe

#14

Post by jzwinck »

This has a great application for travelers in certain areas. The article glosses over it with "even tourists can plug in their destinations and not have to stop to check their phones" but this could be a big deal for people who spend a lot of time walking in unfamiliar areas where pickpockets roam.

It's really not a good idea to take out your fancy smartphone there to check at each corner, but imagine walking around like you actually know where to go. This even applies to places like London, where there have been multiple cases of motorcyclists riding next to the sidewalk (er, pavement) to snatch smartphones from pedestrians.

Re: India’s Answer to Google Glass: The Smartshoe

#15

Post by sambeau »

kumarm wrote: post #11

Certainly interesting idea. The writeup seems odd though. one: Title is off. Second: "The shoes sync up with the Google maps smartphone app and vibrate to tell users when and where to turn to reach their destination." Unless they worked with Google its not possible as out side Google Maps you have no way to notify your shoe about the turn (Through bluetooth).

I'm sure they meant "The shoes sync up with the Google maps SERVICE VIA A smartphone app" and the extra words were probably edited out for brevity. Most people wouldn't understand the difference.

Re: India’s Answer to Google Glass: The Smartshoe

#16

Post by icebraining »

jzwinck wrote: post #14

This has a great application for travelers in certain areas. The article glosses over it with "even tourists can plug in their destinations and not have to stop to check their phones" but this could be a big deal for people who spend a lot of time walking in unfamiliar areas where pickpockets roam. It's really not a good idea to take out your fancy smartphone there to check at each corner, but imagine walking around…

I do this with my Nexus tablet and a cheap bluetooth headset, and just listen to Google Maps' turn-by-turn directions. No need for some gimmicky shoes.

Re: India’s Answer to Google Glass: The Smartshoe

#18

Post by drum »

Shoes are a fantastic idea, and highly overlooked. The biggest hurdle to wearable technology is the friction required to convince a consumer to wear it. We all wear shoes. We don't all wear glasses or watches. Some of us even wear contacts to avoid wearing glasses. The Smartshoe doesn't seem as competitive to Google Glass as it is complimentary. Glasses have a better appeal for visual media capture because you can see what you're capturing in real time and from a better angle. The Smartshoe could have a better appeal for fitness and GPS use cases. Emphasizing 'smartsole' would probably be a better sell than 'smartshoe' though. Letting consumers stick with their personal fashion choices, i.e. Nike, Vans, is a powerful selling point.
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