US firm Innovalley is planning to commercialise footwear that wirelessly interacts with a smartphone to direct the wearer.
The company is now speaking with footwear manufacturers and brand owners about applications for the technology.
José Luis Agell, CEO of Innovalley, comments: 'We're speaking to companies with different profiles in the footwear market. Some are high-end brands, some are sportswear brands.'
The shoes, called GPShoes, consist of sensors integrated into the soles, which can communicate with the wearer's smartphone. An app can be used to manage navigation instructions, or detect interesting or useful locations via GPS. The shoes can then provide vibratory feedback to instruct the wearer when to turn left or right, or alert them to a nearby location of interest.
The technology could be used for navigation around new cities for tourists, for cyclists, delivery people or other professional uses.
Agell remarks: 'We've thought about motorcyclists, skiers, walkers - anyone that would find this information valuable, where accessing a smartphone without needing to take it out of your pocket would be useful.'
Smart Fabrics
The technology was presented at the Smart Fabrics conference on 23-24 February in London, UK.
The company is planning to enter the market with a product based on GPShoes technology by 2012.
The company is partnered with R&D centre Cetemmsa in Spain. Cetemmsa has previously worked on a number of wearable electronics concepts, such as smart textiles sportswear for athletes. The company was also involved in the EU-funded Dephotex project, which ends on October 2011.
The €4.2 million initiative aims to integrate photovoltaics into textiles, for integration into clothing and for large-area applications of solar cells.
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Innovalley
The US developer of smart textile technology is looking to commercialise its GPShoes
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Smart Fabrics 2011
Coverage of the most innovative technologies in smart textiles developments will be presented at Smart Fabrics 2011, 4-6 April at the Hotel Russell, London, UK
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Cetemmsa
Technology centre developing printed electronics for sportswear and accessories
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Dephotex
EU project to develop cheap OPVs, produced in a roll-to-roll process, which can be placed directly on textiles
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Electronic sportswear on track for 2010
Sensing technology could be the talk of the 2012 Olympics following developments at Spanish research centre Cetemmsa
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Reebok announces partnership with smart fabric developer
Reebok is partnering with wearable electronics company mc10 to develop sportswear concepts
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