GPS Shoes Inspired By ‘Wizard Of Oz’ Yet To Be Mass Produced
British Designer Dominic Wilcox Builds Prototype Oxfords With Built-in GPS
London-based inventor Dominic Wilcox has created a pair of footwear with a built-in global positioning system (GPS) that guides the wearer in the direction of home or any desired destination. But they are yet to be mass produced, Examiner has reported.
When the wearer clicks his or her heels thrice, the unit is activated and the prototypes of the unique shoes are inspired by Dorothy's quest to find her way home in the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz."
Called "No Place Like Home," after Dorothy's famous line in the film "The Wizard of Oz," the left heel of the shoe holds the GPS unit in a cavity, ABC News reported.
Apparently, a small antenna placed on back of the shoe camouflaged in red fabric reads signal from the GPS satellite. The GPS gets activated on clicking the heels thrice as a magnet in the right shoe and a sensor in the left shoe detect the activation. The GPS is powered by a small battery similar to that found in a cellphone, according to ABC News.
The pair of Oxford was commissioned by the Global Footprint Project and Wilcox notes that they have red calf leather inside as homage to Dorothy's red shoes.
A computer program allows the wearer to plot destination on a map, which is uploaded to the shoes via USB cable. The left shoe has a circle of LED lights on the toe that light up to show direction that the wear needs to take while the LEDs on right shoe act as progress bar giving an estimate of proximity to destination. Both shoes reportedly communicate via wireless, ABC News has stated.
The pair of shoes was originally designed for showcasing at the London Design Festival but following the widespread attention, Wilcox is planning to make more pairs, ABC News has reported adding, Wilcox is taking adequate care to protect his creation and trying not to use the shoes, though they work.
Previously, Wilcox has designed watches with small sculptures balancing on their hands.
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