Odd concept: Shoelight

http://gizmodo.com/375502/pioneer-sneakers-light-your-way-with-built+in-headlights

Designers Feijun Chen & Bin Zhao clearly were reading Skymall when they dreamed up these "Pioneer" sneakers with built-in recharging headlights. They've got a battery inside which charges on each step, using some mysterious tech that doesn't look piezoelectric. Apparently this can power the LEDs in the front for a full 12 hours. So you can, you know: run in the dark down dim-lit streets, or something. Maybe they'd be handy for doggy-do detection? Just a concept, for now. [Yanko design]

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Is it possible to build a slim dynamo or piezoelectric and use the sole pressure when jogging or walking to recharge a set of caps?

there are DIY sites that has "USB LED lights" that uses USB to charge a super cap and feed an LED through a resistor. Do you think we might see more of these?

I'm hoping for some type of "media slice" thats removable after the shoes wore out. dunno, thought to share since search haven't given me anything

opinions?

i thought it would be distracting if the lights keep on bobbing up & down every step. would such light induce motion sickness akeen to seasick?... :green:

Is that a gimmic or is that a gimmck?
Possibly a good kind of thing for joggers to be more visible at night?

rubbish to see by because the light would go everywhere but in front of you.... Good to be seen, though.

actually, it would be a great idea if the light came out the back of the shoe.....no more 3M retroflective material!

this way, the energy lost in the foot strike would be put to good use.

for use as a "headlight" i doubt that it would generate enough power to drive an LED at any decent level enough to see by. Even if they found a way, they should make it connected to a seperate Module to affix to your hand, or whatever...

IMHO, would be absolutely pointless for running, but hey, who needs 10000 lumens lights every day anyway right? the whole point is FUN..

Crenshaw

Crenshaw said:

actually, it would be a great idea if the light came out the back of the shoe.....no more 3M retroflective material!

this way, the energy lost in the foot strike would be put to good use.
Crenshaw

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I had one of those shoes when I was a kid... 2 red leds will blink everytime you step, so much fun.

Honestly if they were to do this, I'd also like to see red lights on the back for added safety measures. May not sell well for adults, but every kid and parent would want these (depending on cost).

sORe-EyEz said:

i thought it would be distracting if the lights keep on bobbing up & down every step. would such light induce motion sickness akeen to seasick?... :green:

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I stopped wearing headlights when I jog because of that...:duh2:
still, I find it interesting that with all the dynamo lights no one used piezoelectric...I mean gee...imagine one day punching bags can generate power:candle:

Maybe someone can mod the led.

Electric shoe.......

Bwahhaaaaaaa.....
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.02/baylis_pr.html

xcel730 said:

Maybe someone can mod the led.

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Higher wattage demands a bigger heatsink; which, if done, will redefine the term "hotfoot"

the sneaker better comply with IPX-8 standards

Illum_the_nation said:

Higher wattage demands a bigger heatsink; which, if done, will redefine the term "hotfoot"

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xcel730 said:

the sneaker better comply with IPX-8 standards

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I'll be surprisd if it floats

My shoe lights didn't have rechargeable batteries but they did have fiber optic whiskers in the tail as well as a single forward facing toe light:

There are non-rechargeable slippers with built-in LED flashlights too, actually available for purchase

http://www.brightfeetslippers.com/

McGizmo said:

My shoe lights didn't have rechargeable batteries but they did have fiber optic whiskers in the tail as well as a single forward facing toe light:

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McGizmo,

You have pretty sweet feet!

Kick it up a notch and install some 405 nm UV led's on the straps to illuminate those luscious toes.... and use GID NAIL POLISH... Puh..puh...PuWeeeeease!

If you care to care, any GID polish made with strontium aluminate activated with europium would do... color does not matter.

:naughty:

Illum_the_nation said:

I stopped wearing headlights when I jog because of that...:duh2:
still, I find it interesting that with all the dynamo lights no one used piezoelectric...I mean gee...imagine one day punching bags can generate power:candle:

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headlights really that bad too? i think the exercise bicycle would do very well as a dynamo charger. stepper machines could use a piezoelectric charger for phone batteries.

sounds like a grand plan is in the works?

I feel all of these products would be great for air travel.

betalight,

I made those shoes for a friend. She wore them to a Burning Man a number of years back. I could have been more clear in the post about that I suppose. :nana:

Light up shoes always remind me of this story I heard or was it a video? A criminal was fleeing police one night but he was easily tracked by the police even through thick brush and forest.

The police just watched for his feet - he was wearing shoes that lit up when he walked.

McGizmo said:

betalight,

I made those shoes for a friend. She wore them to a Burning Man a number of years back. I could have been more clear in the post about that I suppose. :nana:

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Whew! I was just thinking about how ugly my feet look by comparison.