Google sister firm working on smart shoe
Verily prototype monitors wearer’s movement, weight and falls
DALVIN BROWN What if your shoes could track your weight as well as your steps?
Google’s sister company Verily has reportedly developed a prototype for smart shoes that monitor the wearer’s movements, weight and falls, according to CNBC sources.
Verily, which is Alphabet’s life sciences arm, has actively searched for partners to help bring the vision to life, according to the report that cited three sources familiar with the project. Verily reportedly has shown the design in private meetings to attract partners who can build the shoes and take them to market.
The smart footwear has sensors em- bedded to monitor activity levels, which could be used to identify symptoms like sudden weight gain that can be a sign of diseases like congestive heart failure.
Whether the shoes will ever be available to purchase remains unclear, as CNBC couldn’t learn whether the pro-
ject was still active.
Apple recently introduced fall detection software with the Apple Watch Series 4, which also comes with emergency alert services in case of major accidents.
Apple also added ECG (electrocardiogram) software to the device.
Verily was previously known as Google Life Sciences until 2015, when Alphabet renamed the division.
Verily has a team of doctors, engineers, chemists and technologists who work on promoting good health and preventing diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The health-focused tech company has recently developed a smart spoon known as Liftware.
The spoon has variations to help people with hand tremors and limited arm mobility. Verily is also working on smart contact lenses that help with agerelated far-sightedness.