‘there’s no place like home’ bespoke GPS shoes by dominic wilcox

upon commission by global footprint – a northamptonshire-based visual arts and living heritage programme – british designer dominic wilcox has developed a bespoke pair of GPS prototype shoes which help guide you home.

a piece of software has been created in which the wearer plots their desired destination on a map – this location is uploaded via USB to the shoe. through the use of two microcontrollers called arduinos, a simple click of the heels, where the GPS is embedded, activates the system, with a red tag containing the unit’s antenna positioned upwards. powered by battery, similar to that of mobile phones, data from the left shoe communicates wirelessly with the right one which shows progress via a bar of LED lights on the footwear’s toe cap. a green LED is illuminated once one has arrived at their final destination. the left shoe indicates the correct direction in which to walk by way of LEDs placed in a circle.

the shoes are on show at KK outlet as part of london design festival 2012 until setpember 26th.

detail of the shoes’ toe caps: the left shoe has a circle of LED lights which

which way home?

wilcox has etched a drawing into the sole of the shoe

detail of the sketch

the GPS system is embeded into the heel of the shoe

dominic wilcox on the development of the shoe video © dominic wilcox

preparing to shape the shoe

attaching the upper to the base of the shoe

nicholas cooper of stamp shoes helped work on making the shoe design, integrating and connecting the lights at the front of the shoe to the GPS at the back

finalizing the shoe