Soon, travellers will be able to navigate their way around a new city by following their shoes, thanks to a new piece of technology currently being tested by budget carrier easyJet.
The new shoes – called “Sneakairs” – feature built-in vibrating sensors, a GPS system, and bluetooth technology that will communicate with your smartphone via a new app when you should turn and when you should stop.
The innovative device will make it easy for travellers to explore a new city without having to do all the directing themselves.
For example, to mark a left turn, the left shoe vibrates; a vibrating right shoe instructs the wearer to turn right. And in the event that a traveller steers off course, the GPS system automatically recalculates a new route to get the traveller back on track.
“A ‘wrong turn’ detector and route recalculation functions have been incorporated so that if a user gets lost or voluntarily wishes to leave the route, it will be able to guide them back onto the right course towards their final destination.”
EasyJet spokesperson.
The shoes will also signal to you once you’ve reached your destination, just in case you happen to miss the imposing Sagrada Familia directly in front of you!
It’s basically like using Google Maps, only the task of getting from A to B is left up to your shoes, giving you more time to look around and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of a new destination instead of staying glued to your screen (and potentially bumping into a million angry locals).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycp16t6qr8M
At present, the associated app is only available for iPhone users (an Android version is on the cards), and the shoes only come in easyJet’s iconic orange.
However, in the future it may be possible for the vibrating device to be fitted into any shoe – just under the in-sole – making your shoe-led experience oblivious to the outsider observer.
To others, you will actually look like you know where you’re going…
Just when travellers will be able to get their feet into a pair of these bad boys is still up in the air, but the new technology is currently being street tested in colourful Barcelona, and so far the results and feedback from users has been promising.
Users reportedly reached several landmarks in the city – such as Gaudí’s Casa La Pedrera and Casa Batlló – without having to consult a map and in less time. #winning
This isn’t the first time the budget carrier has embraced innovation in an effort to revolutionise the industry.
Earlier this year, easyJet unveiled a new energy-efficient plane concept that will feature a hydrogen fuel cell.
The technology will save the airline millions of dollars in fuel consumption as well as doing its part for the environment.