Recent Innovations in Footwear and the Role of Smart Footwear in Healthcare—A Survey
Pradyumna G. Rukmini,
Roopa B. Hegde,
Bommegowda K. Basavarajappa,
Anil Kumar Bhat,
Amit N. Pujari,
Gaetano D. Gargiulo,
Upul Gunawardana,
Tony Jan,
Ganesh R. Naik
Affiliations
Pradyumna G. Rukmini
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, NMAM Institute Technology, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Nitte 574110, India
Roopa B. Hegde
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, NMAM Institute Technology, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Nitte 574110, India
Bommegowda K. Basavarajappa
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, NMAM Institute Technology, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Nitte 574110, India
Anil Kumar Bhat
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, NMAM Institute Technology, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Nitte 574110, India
Amit N. Pujari
School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UK
Gaetano D. Gargiulo
School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
Upul Gunawardana
School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
Tony Jan
Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Optimization (AIRO), Design and Creative Technology Vertical, Torrens University, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
Ganesh R. Naik
Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Optimization (AIRO), Design and Creative Technology Vertical, Torrens University, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
Smart shoes have ushered in a new era of personalised health monitoring and assistive technologies. Smart shoes leverage technologies such as Bluetooth for data collection and wireless transmission, and incorporate features such as GPS tracking, obstacle detection, and fitness tracking. As the 2010s unfolded, the smart shoe landscape diversified and advanced rapidly, driven by sensor technology enhancements and smartphones’ ubiquity. Shoes have begun incorporating accelerometers, gyroscopes, and pressure sensors, significantly improving the accuracy of data collection and enabling functionalities such as gait analysis. The healthcare sector has recognised the potential of smart shoes, leading to innovations such as shoes designed to monitor diabetic foot ulcers, track rehabilitation progress, and detect falls among older people, thus expanding their application beyond fitness into medical monitoring. This article provides an overview of the current state of smart shoe technology, highlighting the integration of advanced sensors for health monitoring, energy harvesting, assistive features for the visually impaired, and deep learning for data analysis. This study discusses the potential of smart footwear in medical applications, particularly for patients with diabetes, and the ongoing research in this field. Current footwear challenges are also discussed, including complex construction, poor fit, comfort, and high cost.
