Anyone in the Smartshoe from digit sole wants to use optimally, needs the associated app. The smart sneaker warms, counts steps, adapts to the foot and should even be able to be operated using voice commands.
Karim Oumnia has already impressed celebrities like Madonna and Beyoncé with his sporty shoe designs. The French engineer could hardly have dreamed that he would have his best idea during a winter hunting trip. He had received the invitation to do so from a company for which he was to develop a functional shoe for hunters. After five minutes in the open air, Oumnia's feet were numb from the cold and in his distress he dreamed of heated shoe soles that could be controlled via an app - the idea for his startup Digitsole was born.
The result of several years of development work that followed is the Smartshoe, an innovative sneaker that is full to the brim with technology. The kick, which is reminiscent of a basketball shoe, is opened and closed using a hydraulic mechanism that can be operated via an app. The fit can also be individually adapted to the wearer's foot at the touch of a button, for which a movable element in the heel is used. In addition, various sensors are integrated into the shoe, which analyze the number of steps, distance covered and calorie consumption as well as the wearer's gait. To do this, data on pedaling strength, turning movements and running speed are sent to the smartphone via Bluetooth and displayed there in a clear 3D graphic. Based on this evaluation, the wearer also receives individual tips on how to adopt a healthier and joint-friendly gait.
The Smartshoe is charged via a micro-USB port in the heel. In normal mode, full charging takes around three hours, but it also has a quick charge mode that is twice as powerful, but which puts a little more strain on the battery. The average battery life is enough for two weeks, Digitsole promises around 500 charging cycles per shoe. In winter, the Smartshoe guarantees cozy warmth for up to eight hours. When the temperature set via the app is reached, a sensor automatically switches off the heating mechanism to save electricity.
The Kickstarter's funding goal of $ 50 was reached just a few days after the Crowdfunding Campaign clearly exceeded. The campaign is still running for a few days and such a pair of smart kicks are currently available for $ 229, later they should be 60% more expensive. The enormous success enables Oumnia and his team to develop yet another feature for the shoe, which some supporters have longed for: voice control! A long-awaited dream should come true, not only for sneaker fans ...