Have you ever wished your shoe collection rivalled the Kardashians or Christian Louboutin? Who hasn’t. In an era of ever-expanding growth and unrivalled potential, anything is possible these days. Which is why the idea of ShiftWear sneakers – where you can change the design and colouring of your shoes from an App in your phone – is so sort-of believable.
Recent developments in the world of flexible electronics has made the shape shifter shoe plausible. Each pair of ShiftWear sneakers features external E Ink displays, similar to those found in e-readers. The built-in batteries are designed to last up to 30 days, depending on the type of visuals set. Static images will consume little-to-no power, while animated graphics would be expected to drain batteries much faster, especially with increased complexity or frequency. But the team creating these kicks plans to incorporate wireless charging capabilities, as well as “Walk-N-Charge” technology that lets the shoes charge up with every step.
As of right now, there is no word on when the shoe will reach a point of peak development. Like Tumblr themes, the coinciding App will give users the opportunity to customise their own “shoe themes” or create their own to be shared and sold in an online marketplace. For those concerned about wear and tear, the ShiftWear sneakers will be waterproof and machine washable. Although there are no plans for the soles to be replaceable, they will be coated with Kevlar fiber in order to last longer.
The team have put together a video to explain the capabilities of ShiftWear. We’re already sold.
