Smart socks? Checked! Smart shoes? Checked! Smart soles? Well, they’re really close to becoming a reality!
Wearable tech companies have developed all sorts of things that keep track of our workouts without forcing us to wear any additional gadgets, such as smart bracelets or smartwatches. In other words, some creators of wearables really want us to feel as natural as possible, without any extras. Soles would qualify for that, as they don’t alter walking that much, and if they do, it’s for the better.
Brought to life by the eponymous Nancy, France-based company, Digitsole couldn’t have had a more intuitive name. These digital soles double as a step counter, but that’s not the only thing great about them. Using the companion app, which is available on both Android and iOS, users can turn on the heat in the soles. Such features will surely be appreciated in the cold of winter, whenever going skiing, snowboard, hiking or simply walking. That’s particularly great if your peripheral vascular system is… well, not that great.
The smart soles connect to the smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0 LE. After pairing them, you can easily turn on the warm up function. What’s neat about the app is just how much control offers you over the temperature of your feet. More precisely, the temperature of each sole can be adjusted independently, and I assume there must be some threshold, so that you don’t feel that your feet are on fire.
The fitness tracking functions of the app requires you to enter your weight and height. Upon doing so, the companion app will tell you how much you have walked and how many calories you have burned. While that doesn’t seem like a lot, it’s exactly what some people need.
Digitsole is currently featured on Kickstarter, where backers have already pledged more than double the $40K necessary for mass-producing the gadget. Super Early Birds, the ones who backed the project with $99 will get their Digitsole in January 2015. However, if you’re in a hurry and need it under your Christmas tree, you will have to get $179 out of your pocket.
Luckily for the pretentious ones, there are plenty of different colors available. There’s diversity in sizes as well, so if you’re wearing between 6 and 12, there’s a Digitsole made for you.
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