Understanding gait is the first step to running better each day. Gait analysis looks at a person’s stance, swing, and overall form when running. While research has identified optimal contact points with the ground, it can vary across different bodies and footwear. Smart shoes use a range of magnetic measurement units like gyroscopes, accelerometers, and magnetometers for gait analysis.
Smart shoes come embedded with satellite navigation to provide data in real time. Most shoes have systems such as GPS, GALILEO, and GLONASS.
When you run or walk, pressure sensors in smart shoes analyze a plethora of information. They offer insights into the distribution of body weight, especially mid-gait.
Besides fitness and form, the surrounding environment can massively impact athletic performance. Smart shoes contain cutting-edge ambient sensors that detect variations in sounds, light, or atmospheric pressure. Athletes competing or training in high altitudes will find this especially helpful.
Most smart shoes have incredible cloud-based transmission abilities. These systems process and sort raw data from sensors into different categories. The technology breaks down data into complex and detailed algorithms, allowing personalized feedback on gait patterns or other movements.
The world is many years away before smart shoes become a part of everyday life. Companies require significant investment, research, and resources for smart shoes. The average consumer still considers smart shoes a novelty – the purview of pro athletes and celebrities. But with advanced technology and shifting consumer mindsets, the future of shoes as we know it could look very different.