A method of making an arch support for an article of footwear at a kiosk includes scanning a foot of a customer who has selected a shoe for purchase, determining dimensions of the customer's foot based on the scan, comparing the dimensions of the customer's foot with pre-determined dimensions of a last used to make the selected shoe, defining a shape characterized by the difference between the dimensions of the customer's foot and the dimensions of the last, and printing the arch support with a 3D printer. The arch support has the shape characterized by the difference between the dimensions of the customer's foot and the dimensions of the last.

A method of enabling shoe identification comprises receiving at a server apparatus information relating to a unique identity of a shoe comprising a physiological sensor configured for operation in an active mode and a shipping mode. The server apparatus causes an NFC tag to be generated comprising at least the information relating to the unique identity. The method further comprises scanning the tag at a testing device during the manufacture of the shoe. The testing device is configured to test the functioning of the physiological sensor in association with the shoe. When it is determined that the at least one physiological sensor is working properly, the information relating to the unique identity is written to a storage device of the physiological sensor. The shoe is placed in an orientation for shipping such that the physiological sensor enters the shipping mode, the physiological sensor configured to exit the shipping mode and enter the active mode after a predetermined time and upon detection of a change from the orientation for shipping.

A method of enabling shoe identification comprises receiving at a server apparatus information relating to a unique identity of a shoe comprising a physiological sensor configured for operation in an active mode and a shipping mode. The server apparatus causes an NFC tag to be generated comprising at least the information relating to the unique identity. The method further comprises scanning the tag at a testing device during the manufacture of the shoe. The testing device is configured to test the functioning of the physiological sensor in association with the shoe. When it is determined that the at least one physiological sensor is working properly, the information relating to the unique identity is written to a storage device of the physiological sensor. The shoe is placed in an orientation for shipping such that the physiological sensor enters the shipping mode, the physiological sensor configured to exit the shipping mode and enter the active mode after a predetermined time and upon detection of a change from the orientation for shipping.

A system assesses activity and displays a unitless activity value. A detector senses activity of a user. A processor reads sensed activity data from the detector. A display displays the unitless activity value. An enclosure houses the detector and the processor. The processor periodically reads the sensed activity data from the detector and processes the data to generate an activity number, the number being used to generate the unitless activity value based upon a maximum number and a display range.

A system assesses activity and displays a unitless activity value. A detector senses activity of a user. A processor reads sensed activity data from the detector. A display displays the unitless activity value. An enclosure houses the detector and the processor. The processor periodically reads the sensed activity data from the detector and processes the data to generate an activity number, the number being used to generate the unitless activity value based upon a maximum number and a display range.

A method to reproduce an original object includes receiving a 3D model of the original object; forming a reformable master shape from the 3D model by using a computer controlled shape actuator; impressing the reformable master shape into a reformable material to form a custom mold, the reformable material having a material state that is reversible between a solid condition stable force-resisting state and a flowable state by addition of a transition liquid; pouring a material into the custom mold while the reformable material is in the stable force-resisting state and fabricating a copy; adding the transition liquid to the reformable material to change the state of the reformable material from the stable force-resisting state to the flowable state; and reusing the reformable material to form another custom sole once the reformable material is in the flowable state.

System and method for apparel identification using a scannable code. In one embodiment, the method comprises: receiving a purchase order comprising information relating to a unique identity of the apparel; printing a machine-readable code including the information relating to the unique identity onto a tag; disposing an electronic apparatus on the apparel during manufacture; attaching the tag onto a portion of the apparel during the manufacture; performing tests to the functionality of the electronic apparatus; scanning the machine-readable code of the tag during the manufacture; transmitting the information relating to the unique identity to the electronic apparatus; and providing the apparel having the information relating to the unique identity stored at the electronic apparatus to a user based on the purchase order. In one variant, the apparel comprises a shoe and the electronic apparatus comprises a movement sensor.

A system assesses activity and displays a unitless activity value. A detector senses activity of a user. A processor reads sensed activity data from the detector. A display displays the unitless activity value. An enclosure houses the detector and the processor. The processor periodically reads the sensed activity data from the detector and processes the data to generate an activity number, the number being used to generate the unitless activity value based upon a maximum number and a display range.

A system assesses activity and displays a unitless activity value. A detector senses activity of a user. A processor reads sensed activity data from the detector. A display displays the unitless activity value. An enclosure houses the detector and the processor. The processor periodically reads the sensed activity data from the detector and processes the data to generate an activity number, the number being used to generate the unitless activity value based upon a maximum number and a display range.

A method for manufacturing a sandal, wherein the toe thong location of said sandal is customised for a wearer. For a particular wearer, the optimal location of the toe thong of the sandal may be determined by applying a computer algorithm, which takes into account foot data of the wearer, which foot data may be obtained from image/video capture technology. The method makes use of a custom toe thong insert, which is embedded within the sole of the sandal. The custom toe thong insert is configured to receive and securely engage with a fastener attached to the toe thong and foot strap, such that the toe thong will be positioned at or proximate to the optimal location for the particular wearer. Also disclosed herein is a sandal with a customised toe thong location that is made in accordance with the above-described method.