Georgia Tech develops self-charging battery that marches to the owner’s beat

Georgia Tech develops selfcharging battery with laws of physics still intact

One of the last times we saw the concept of a self-recharging battery, it was part of a high-minded Nokia patent whose ideas still haven’t seen the light of day. Researchers at Georgia Tech are more inclined to put theory into practice. Starting from a regular lithium-ion coin battery, the team has replaced the usual divider between electrodes with a polyvinylidene difluoride film whose piezoelectric nature produces a charging action inside that gap through just a little pressure, with no outside voltage required to make the magic happen. The developers have even thumbed their noses at skeptics by very literally walking the walk — slipping the test battery under a shoe sole gives it a proper dose of energy with every footstep. At this stage, the challenge mostly involves ramping up the maximum power through upgrades such as more squeezable piezoelectrics. Georgia Tech hasn’t progressed so far as to have production plans in mind; it’s nonetheless close enough that we could see future forms of wearable computing that rarely need an electrical pick-me-up.

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Georgia Tech develops self-charging battery that marches to the owner’s beat originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Aug 2012 04:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adidas Social Media Shoe

It goes without saying that the world of social media has definitely changed the way we communicate with one another, and social networks such as Facebook as well as micro blogging sites like Twitter have introduced a new way we visit places – especially when we check in to various restaurants, hotels and shopping malls. Our modern day smartphones would be the primary device where we use social media most of the time whenever we are away from a desktop or notebook, while at the office or home itself, we will most probably be uploading photos of our latest soiree with the rest of our mates.

Having said that, have you ever wondered whether the humble shoe could actually jump aboard the social media bandwagon? This is exactly what I am talking about with sportswear giant adidas coming up with the aptly named Adidas Social Media Shoe. Thanks to the help of customizer NASH Money, adidas has managed to inject a healthy dose of technology into a 2012 adidas Barricade tennis sneaker, which transforms a phone into a shoe. Alternatively, those who are on the other end of the spectrum might want to argue, is this a shoe that has been turned into a phone? More details to follow in the extended post.

Fans tweeting athletes, athletes tweeting fans, these look set to be commonplace thanks to this highly modified adidas sneaker. Bear in mind that this will not enter into mass production, as it is a one-off concept sneaker that does lead to the intriguing question – what will the future hold when it comes to social media and sports? Imagine Usain Bolt at the tracks, tweeting his feeling about performing a triple double in Rio when 2016 rolls around, you can be sure that the classic Twitter fail whale might just make an appearance then.

The Adidas Social Media Shoe will merge an Arduino unit, a LCD display, and LED lighting in order to deliver a shoe which, by virtue of its existence, should deserve its very own Twitter account. The external LCD display shows off relevant information to user, while a personalized software will poll the Twitter API’s to share specific data on the shoe screen.

YouTube video

[ Adidas Social Media Shoe copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]


Adidas Social Media Barricade shoe concept moves tweets to the track (video)

Adidas Social Media Shoe concept moves tweets to the track

Adidas is known for making connected shoes — but never quite as linked-up as a Nash Money concept making its appearance late into the London Olympics. The Social Media Barricade weaves the guts of a phone and a basic two-line LCD into a running shoe, letting the footwear take Twitter updates very literally on the run through a public account. Even the signature Adidas stripes change their hue through remote control. Before anyone gets visions of athletes checking congratulatory tweets after the 100-meter sprint, just remember that it’s an idea rather than a production blueprint: although Adidas is quick to call the Social Media Barricade the “future of athlete connectivity,” the only athletes putting eyes on a pair right now are those swinging by the Olympics’ media lounge for interviews. Knowing this, we can still imagine some future shoes padding runners’ egos at the finish line during the 2016 Rio games.

Continue reading Adidas Social Media Barricade shoe concept moves tweets to the track (video)

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Adidas Social Media Barricade shoe concept moves tweets to the track (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Pocket-lint  |  sourceAdidas (YouTube), (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

BioSoles know you’re you within three steps, deter shoe bandits

BioSoles know you're you within three steps, deter shoe bandits

It’s no secret that everyone has a unique swagger — so much so it can be used for identification. Many are working on this for biometric security, including a team at Carnegie Mellon University and Autonomous ID, who are collaborating on shoe insoles that monitor pressure and gait to confirm the identity of the wearer. So far, tests have shown a detection rate above 99 percent within just three steps, meaning they can alert you before that opportunist even makes it out of the locker room. It’s thought the cloud-connected BioSoles could be implemented in security access, although we’re not sure this offers advantages over similar, static technology also in development. We do, however, like the idea that subtle changes in your strut could be used to provide early indications of conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes. It’s likely that the insoles won’t be available any time soon, so until then, keep an eagle eye on those expensive kicks.

Continue reading BioSoles know you’re you within three steps, deter shoe bandits

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BioSoles know you’re you within three steps, deter shoe bandits originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceCarnegie Mellon University  | Email this | Comments