Honestly if they got the cost down and figured out a better interaction mechanism than an app, I could see it being useful for older or disabled individuals.
For example, imagine someone is 55. They are still with it, and decently active for this age. However they have arthritis in their hands that makes tasks that require dexterity mildly uncomfortable. These kinds of shoes would be a pretty big boon for them in terms of staying active.
The issue is that they tried to make it some cool fashion accessory for Gen Z sneaker heads to buy.
They have buttons on the shoes too. Still, having a battery for something like this is just wasteful and pointless. People with disabilities have already several unpowered alternatives that work perfectly fine and as mentioned, those things are clearly not designed for that purpose in mind anyway.
You could also just, idk, by Velcro shoes or get lock laces.
Edit: Got downvoted but that’s literally what my mother with arthritis uses. Lock laces and a shoe horn. Lock laces are basically the low tech and reliable version of what these app shoes have.
Honestly if they got the cost down and figured out a better interaction mechanism than an app, I could see it being useful for older or disabled individuals.
For example, imagine someone is 55. They are still with it, and decently active for this age. However they have arthritis in their hands that makes tasks that require dexterity mildly uncomfortable. These kinds of shoes would be a pretty big boon for them in terms of staying active.
The issue is that they tried to make it some cool fashion accessory for Gen Z sneaker heads to buy.
They have buttons on the shoes too. Still, having a battery for something like this is just wasteful and pointless. People with disabilities have already several unpowered alternatives that work perfectly fine and as mentioned, those things are clearly not designed for that purpose in mind anyway.
Man, at 55 I will be still running ironman’s… Hopefully. And trails. Let’s keep arthritis for the 70’s, shall we?
I know a few people in their 40’s with varying stages of arthritis. I’m hopeful for post 70’s as well, but it’s not looking too good.
Dude never heard of slipons or Velcro
You could also just, idk, by Velcro shoes or get lock laces.
Edit: Got downvoted but that’s literally what my mother with arthritis uses. Lock laces and a shoe horn. Lock laces are basically the low tech and reliable version of what these app shoes have.