Compass Boots

we make money not art: The prototype consists of three parts: the shoes with a series of sensors and mechanics, an interface and a computer running a software to analyse the data from the sensors. The Interface provides the communication between the shoes and the Mac. In the future both the interface and the computer could be embedded in the shoes.
Dual-axis Accelerometers and Compass Modules transmit the data to determinate the position and orientation of the shoes. GPS could enhance the positioning also related to the environment – but is not integrated yet. Distance Sensors detect the Distance to obstacles on the way. Flaps are pulled to the lower elastic layer of the sole by servo motors if necessary; they create the angle of the sole. Switches at the rear side of the shoes register the contact to the base.
The shoes could find applications in the following contexts: assistance to avoid obstacles, target-orientated guidance from point A to point B, reference to nearby “Points-of-Interests”… or a virtual borderline of an otherwise accessible area.
CabBoots [we make money not art]