Alae Navigational Footwear by Lily Tagiuri from uk

Are we there yet?

GPS technology has undoubtedly given us new freedom and confidence to explore and traverse our world. However, as we walk hunched, with our heads over our phones, looking down, and not at each other or at our surroundings, I wondered how we could be more engaged with the physical world and with one another.

Whether it is commuting to work, traveling through a new city, or finding a fresh hangout, the journey should be as rich as the destination. I began exploring ways people could be more engaged by keeping their hands free and heads up, while still navigating new places. Through research, I landed on Alae; a directional accessory programmed to be added to any shoe. A hollow cast structure of Alae conceals the orienteering technology of haptic sensors, coin batteries, a battery level LED indicator, and miniature motor.

Rather than looking down at our phones and wondering, “Are we there yet?” programmed sensors in each heel are keyed to a map of your destination and subtle pulses on the heels signal direction changes.
Alea pulses left for left and right for right and both heels pulse to signal arrival.
The maps can be programmed to either lead the wearer or when out exploring without a map, to trace the journey of where the user has been and build new maps so that you can retrace your way. Alae’s sleek design masks their practical function and adds a bright punctuation to any shoe. With Alae, walking turns into exploring, meeting, and discovering.