Contact:
Mag. My Hue McGowran
Phone: +43-1-81140-308
E-Mail: mcgowran@newsfox.com
| Pressbox | 
|
London (pte041/19.05.2005/13:51) - With child obesity on the increase in the United Kingdom, those concerned have devised a new commodity: a pair of shoes. 'Square Eyes', as the shoes are called, calculate whether enough exercise has been done to warrant a stint in front of the TV.
The shoes are fitted with an electronic pressure sensor and a tiny computer chip that records the amount of steps taken in a day by the wearer. Connected to the television by a wireless transmitter, telly time can be worked out according to how much exercise was done.
Every 100 steps recorded by the Square Eyes shoes equates to precisely one minute of TV time, so the amount of exercise done equals how much time the TV will stay on for. To watch more, the child has to do more steps.
The project was developed as a final-year design project by Gillian Swan at the Brunel University in London http://www.brunel.ac.uk/ .
"We looked at current issues and childhood obesity really stood out," Swan said. "And I wanted to tackle that with my design."
Whereas existing pedometers are clip-ons, Square Eyes actually has the sensors built into the sole and the heel.
Cliff Randall from Bristol University says: "It's a good idea for integrating sensors into clothing." He believes that clothes will be outfitted with computers in the future.
(end)
|
|
