"Smart shoes" can help people during trouble walking

A new mobility aid named Path helps people who have trouble walking – simply by being fitted to their shoes. It isn't secret that  many people with Parkinson's fall occasionally and experience freezing of gait, the temporary impression that his feet are glued to the ground.

Visual cues have been shown to improve the pace and extend the stride of people with Parkinson's. So a laser that Path adds to the tip of the shoe projects parallel lines onto the next 50 centimetres of the floor. Each shoe lays down a guide for the opposite foot, keeping the grid steady until the wearer is ready to take the next step.

In addition, pressure sensors inserted into the soles of the shoes trigger vibrations when a foot hits the ground. This active feedback is designed to compensate for loss of sensation in the feet. The soles and the toe projectors can easily be fitted to an ordinary pair of shoes.

Experts plan to run a clinical trial early next year and wants to explore how the shoes can help people with spinal cord injuries.

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