Engineer Hahna Alexander designed SmartBoots, which harvest energy from the wearer’s steps, to aid workers in dangerous professions.
Imagine being a firefighter charging through a burning building. You can’t see your colleagues through the thick smoke. And if you get injured, no one knows exactly where you are either.
A company called SolePower hopes to do this and more. SmartBoots use the energy generated by walking to power various sensors embedded in the sole. These sensors can send GPS signals, sense whether the user is moving and how fast, check temperatures and more. In the firefighter scenario, the GPS capability would allow your captain to track your location. Tiny lights powered by your steps would help colleagues see you through the smoke. If you stop moving, it could alert others that you need help.
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