Google’s lesser-known sister company, Verily, has been working on new prototype shoes which allow users to track their weight, movements, and they can even detect if you have a fall - a feature that could be helpful for older people. Three people who have been involved with the project reported that Verily has been seeking a co-development partner to build and market the product.
According to reports, prototypes have been shown off in private meetings in order to attract interest. While all this has been on-going in recent months, it’s not clear whether Verily is still working on the product or not. The company has refused to talk about the prototype shoes.
Verily was founded a little over three years ago, a few months after Alphabet got off the ground. Verily is a biotechnology and health care firm that in its short life has been working on several projects. Some of these projects include a spoon that makes it easier for people with tremors to eat, a contact lens that tracks glucose levels of diabetic people and removes the need for needles, and “exploding” needles that can make blood extraction quicker for those who need to get tested regularly.
With regards to these new smart shoes, if the project doesn’t get canceled it’ll still probably take a while for the project to become mature and finally reach the market.