With the advent of smartphones, navigation units in cars, and Google Maps, it's almost impossible to get lost. Still, you don't have to tell us that it definitely does still happen. Sometimes you'll find yourself without any kind of map or technology to tell you where to go or how to get home. What if your shoes could get you home in these situations?
Gizmodo points to an invention by a British man named Dominic Wilcox. Dubbed the 'No Place Like Home GPS Shoes,' this project does exactly what it says on the tin. Commissioned by Global Footprint, a Northamptonshire-based visual arts and living heritage programme, and on display at Wilcox's exhibit at KK Outlet in London, the shoes promise to guide you home no matter where you are in the world.
Inspired by Dorothy's red slippers in the Wizard of Oz, Wilcox's shoes are activated with a heal click. The user uploads their destination (we suppose it wouldn't necessarily have to be home) to the shoes via a USB cable and custom mapping software. The right shoe has a progress bar that shows you how close you are to your destination and the left shoe sports a circle of lights that show you which direction to walk. The whole thing is powered by a battery not too different to a smartphone, and two Arduino microcontrollers.
Sadly, it doesn't look like these puppies will ever make it to the general market so for now you're stuck with making sure your phone is charged at all times. If you'd like to see more of them, though, you can hit up Dominic Wilcox's website.
