The iPhone revolutionized the mobile phone industry. The iPad created a tablet market where essentially none had existed. Now, Apple is looking to revolutionize … footwear?
That’s right. A patent filing last week with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office outlines an Apple brainchild that could change the way we use and replace all manner of shoes and sneakers.
Multiple news outlets picked up on this filing shortly after it was made, largely because many analysts are waiting for that next big product from the Cupertino-based tech giant. It could come in the form of an Apple-made TV, or as a new system with sensors that will inform wearers when it’s time to buy a new pair.
“As a shoe wears, physical support provided by the shoe decreases, thereby reducing associated protection from injury,” according to the patent filing. “When a critical wear level is reached, even if the shoe looks like it is not particularly worn, the shoe may not provide adequate support and may, in fact, cause damage to feet.”
Information from the sensors could then be relayed to an LED panel or perhaps even one’s iPhone. We went from phones to smartphones, so why not shoes to smartshoes? It will surely be interesting to see if this comes to fruition.
But, even if it doesn’t – not every patent filing leads to an actual consumer product – the idea itself is intriguing. It shows how a plethora of possibilities are constantly opening up when it comes to mobile technology and how businesses with experience in iOS management and Mac integration will be ready for the moment when those doors open.
