(Credit:
GizmoWatch)
The gadget world is filled with concepts and prototypes that never come close to going into production. So it's particularly encouraging to see one finally make it that far, especially one as whacky as the "iShoes."
These personal conveyances went through two versions before brother-partners Ilya and Borish Kaganovich were apparently satisfied. Now GizmoWatch says the powered footwear, which we still think are best described as a cross between the Segway and a motorized skateboard, are actually for sale.
That's the good news. The bad news is the price--$599 plus $20 shipping--which is significantly more than the range of $399 to $499 estimated earlier, and the maximum speed of 13.5 miles per hour is down from the originally projected 15 mph. Then again, if it went much faster, the price might need to be even higher to defend against all the liability lawsuits brought by idiots who crashed and broke their necks.
(Credit:
eSoles)
Having experienced podiatric problems ranging from fractured toes to the gout, we feel particularly well qualified to address this next piece of athletic technology (apologies for too much information). The item in question comes from a company called eSoles, which says it has developed a technology that can digitally analyze a foot in less than 5 minutes to help create the perfect-fitting shoe.
Its "Foot Imaging Kiosk System" is a one-stop diagnostic center that includes a touch-screen computer, digital scanner, pressure mat and even a printer. The company says a customer need only step on the mat and let the laser-imaging technology do the rest. When its exam is done, the kiosk spits out a ticket that details its analysis with specs for construction of custom soles, preferably on site.
eSoles says the system won't be available until the first quarter of next year. We take that to mean that we should refrain from any physical activity until then.
Does the curse of the mummy begin with bunions?
Jacky Finch, a researcher at the University of Manchester's KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, is testing to see whether two large wooden toes from the era of the Pharaohs were ornamental or actual medical devices.
The Greville toe
(Credit: University of Manchester)If the wooden toes turn out to be prosthetics, this will mean that the art of making fake body parts for practical is centuries older than believed. The oldest prosthesis yet discovered is an artificial leg dating from 300 B.C. The toes are from between 1,000 B.C. and 600 B.C.
One toe, attached to a bit of mummy, is in the British Museum and known as Greville Chester Great Toe after the collector who acquired it for the museum in 1881. (Not to be confused with Gibbon's lesser toes, or the House of Hanover's web finger collection). It is made from cartonnage, a papier maché-like substance made from linen, glue and plaster. The second toe comes from a museum in Cairo.
The Cairo toe
(Credit: University of Manchester)"The Cairo toe is the most likely of the two to be functional as it is articulated and shows signs of wear. It is still attached to the foot of the mummy of a female between 50 and 60 years of age. The amputation site is also well-healed," he stated in a prepared statement. "Unlike the Cairo specimen, the Greville Chester toe does not bend and so is likely to have been more cosmetic."
Just like old Greville--never willing to bend.
Finch has created models of the toes and is looking for people missing similar toes with similar-sized feet to test them. It could be your opportunity for scientific immortality.
(Credit:
Red Ferret)
Maxwell Smart would be so proud. While we've seen other high-tech uses for footwear, most notably GPS devices, what we've really craved is an authentic shoe phone.
So even though we'd prefer that it come in the form of an oxford or loafer, we'd be happy to have a tennis shoe version like this Sports Illustrated collectible found by Red Ferret. Unfortunately, it's corded, which would definitely put a crimp in our sit-com spying missions. But for top-secret conversations in person, we at least have the "Cone of Silence."
A couple of weeks ago we might well have assumed this was a hoax. But with PS3 prices exceeding $10,000 since then on eBay, we're prepared to believe anything.
(Credit:
Blue Sole)
Case in point: These shoes, a pair of "PlayStation 3 Air Max 90 Hybrid Nike Kicks," are going for more than $5,000 on charity auction site Blue Sole. (That's right, an auction site for shoes.) As Joystiq notes, these sneakers aren't really working PlayStations--but you do get some special PS3 logos, drawings and stitching that denotes the console's launch date. And two pairs of laces, even, if you actually have the guts to wear them.
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