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Yesterday I wrote about the trend towards wearable tech and now a new Apple patent has revealed the company’s desire to enter that particular tech sector.
The team at AppleInsider has
unearthed a US Patent Office filing that covers what Apple is calling a
“smart shoe” system. The patent features sensors that can track wear
and usage on a pair of sneakers. As a buyer wears down their shoes the
sensors tell them when it’s time to buy a new pair.
The patent for smart shoes also includes a companion app which would chart a shoes progress via mobile device. Apple may also include build-in LED lights, speakers or displays on the shoes.
In the patent filing Apple explains how the technology would work —
Apple would embed a small processor and other hardware components in the
heel of each shoe along with others in the sole and along various other
points to monitor wear and tear. Sensors built into the shoe would
include a basic pedometer, activity and motion detectors which would
chart how long a shoe was worn and how much activity it experienced.
Based on the recommended walking hours life cycle for each pair of
sneakers Apple would offer advice for buying a new pair.
The Apple patent calls for either a built-in battery supply or a
system in which the actual motion of walking or running would store
energy to power the sneakers. Kinetic energy could ultimately win out
given the type of wearable tech Apple is working with.
This is not the first time Apple
has applied for wearable tech patents, last year the company also
revealed its desire to work with embedded sensors on workout clothes in
order to provide immediate user feedback and workout suggestions.
While some tech firms are focusing on wearable tech that protects our
privacy from facial recognition and other software, Apple appears to be
taking a more mainstream consumer friendly approach to everyday living.
