For $175 a pair runners can pull on a pair of “smart socks” that will track how their foot hits the ground, the rhythm of their footfall, count their steps and estimate calories consumed. The manufacturer, Heapsylon, LLC, claims that over time the socks’ sensors will learn how its wearer runs and will alert the wearer to the possibility of injury. The socks made their debut in January at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas.
To enable them to do what they do, the socks use inbuilt sensors that connect to an ankle bracelet and then, in turn, to a phone. An app will show users “heat maps” of how their feet strike and are impacted by the ground.
Heapsylon representatives say the socks will be available by March. It is working with Vivobarefeet, a British company that makes shoes that conform in a particular manner to the shape of the foot.
The smart socks are among a host of “wearable technologies” including an Internet-connected toothbrush.
Ben Wood, an analyst with CCS Insights, said more than US$100-million had been invested by the public in “wearables.” He claimed their “explosive growth” could mirror tablet sales over the next few years.
