Indian startup Ducere Technologies is about to bestow a new form of high-tech footwear unto the world, the Wall Street Journal reports. Called Lechal shoes, the Bluetooth-enabled smart footwear will sync up with an app on the user’s phone, which is connected to Google Maps. Once a user inputs their destination, the app will command the left and right shoes to vibrate, telling the user which way to turn to reach their destination.
“The shoes are a natural extension of the human body,” Ducere Technologies cofounder and CEO Krispian Lawrence told the WSJ. “You will leave your house without your watch or wristband, but you will never leave your house without your shoes.”
If you’re not a fan of the shoes’ look — can we all admit they resemble dorky water shoes? — users can remove the shoes’ Bluetooth-enabled insoles and insert them into a more stylish pair of kicks.
The smart shoes were originally conceived as away to help blind people find their way around more easily, but the company reportedly soon realized that with Lechal shoes, “joggers, mountain bikers or even tourists can plug in their destinations and not have to stop to check their phones as they move because the buzzing in their shoes will let them know when to turn.”
Also, lazy people who don’t feel like consulting their phone to find their way to their friend’s new apartment.
The shoes will reportedly become available in “select stores” in September, for $100 to $150. Mr. Lawrence told the WSJ he already has 25,000 pre-orders.
We have to admit, wearable tech that doesn’t hurt your eyes or get you kicked out of movie theaters sounds pretty good to us.
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