New “smart” shoes will get you where you’re going without ever having to check your phone’s GPS or look at a map.
By syncing to an app, the high-tech kicks — also available as a simple shoe insert — will map the fastest route and even count calories and steps while you’re on the move.
“You set a destination, put your phone back into your pocket and just start walking,” said Krispian Lawrence, co-founder of Lechal, which means “take me there” in Hindi.
Sensors built into the insert and shoes vibrate to tell you where to turn.
“It’s very intuitive,” Lawrence said. “The vibrations are light — like a tap on your shoulder. If someone taps you on your left shoulder, you instinctively turn left.”
The vibrations become longer as the turn gets closer.
Lawrence and partner Anirudh Sharma launched Lechal for the visually impaired, but realize the product will be beneficial to anyone.
COURTESY LECHAL
The Lechal inserts cost $100 and fit into any shoe. By syncing to the GPS on your smartphone, they buzz to tell you what direction to turn.
“Think of having to walk, looking at your phone for directions or trying to listen to audio feedback in a noisy environment,” said Lawrence, who lives in India but studied in Michigan and worked in Silicon Valley for six years.
“Here, you just set your destination and walk like you belong there — in a new place or old place.”
The technology is also great for athletes — it’s easy to monitor calories being burned and distance traveled, and plan a route based on how long you want to exercise.
But the pair’s company — Ducere Technology — is still focused on charity. For every pair someone who is not visually impaired buys, they’ll donate a pair to someone who is.
The first order of Lechal shoe inserts ($100 per pair) is ready to be shipped, Lawrence said. They’ll announce preorder for the shoes soon. Those are also expected to be priced around $100.
The first model is a sleek, waterproof, fitted shoe with a tiny battery that slips into the heel, but multiple styles are in the works.
“We’ll do a formal pair, a sports pair and something in between, and different colors,” Lawrence said.
Lechal works with iOS, Android and Windows devices.