A monitoring system a user activity sensor to determine patterns of activity based upon the user activity occurring over time.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

A system for analyzing athletic activity is usable with an article of footwear including a sensor system with a plurality of force sensors configured to sense force exerted by a user's foot, an electronic module contained within the article of footwear, and a plurality of sensor leads connecting the sensors to the electronic module, wherein the electronic module collects data based on force input from the sensors and transmits the data. The system also includes an electronic device in communication with the electronic module. The electronic device includes a processor that receives the data from the electronic module, compares the data to a footstrike template corresponding to a desired footstrike pattern to determine whether a deviation from the footstrike template exists, and generates an indication to the user when the deviation from the desired footstrike pattern is determined to exist, which may also include a degree of such deviation.

A system for dynamic movement scoring comprising an article of footwear or apparel and a processor in networked wireless communication with the article of footwear or apparel. The article includes at least one accelerometer or inertial measurement unit operative to monitor spatial motion of at least a portion of the article of footwear or apparel, and to generate a data stream indicative of the monitored spatial motion. The processor is configured to receive the data stream from the article of footwear or apparel, identify at least one motion primitive from the received data stream; and determine an accuracy metric representing a correspondence between the monitored spatial motion of the article of footwear or apparel and the ordered number of motion primitives.

A system for motion-based media creation includes an article of footwear or apparel having at least one accelerometer or inertial measurement unit operative to monitor spatial motion of at least a portion of the article of footwear or apparel and generate a data stream indicative of the monitored spatial motion. The system further includes a processor in networked wireless communication with the article of footwear or apparel. The processor is configured to receive the data stream from the article of footwear or apparel; identify at least one motion primitive from the received data stream; and trigger the playback of an audio sample or a visual effect in response to the identified at least one motion primitive.

A piezoelectric energy hunting device and a voltage signal application system thereof are disclosed. The piezoelectric energy hunting device includes a plurality of curved piezoelectric elements, a plurality of rigid foams, and a flexible foam structure. The plurality of curved piezoelectric elements are arranged side by side with one another, wherein each curved piezoelectric element is attached to one of the rigid foams. The flexible foam structure includes a top foam and a bottom foam covering the outer surface of the plurality of curved piezoelectric elements and the plurality of rigid foams; when the flexible foam structure is compressed, the plurality of curved piezoelectric elements are simultaneously deformed, thereby generating a voltage signal. When the flexible foam structure is not compressed, the flexible foam structure and the plurality of rigid foams provide an elastic force to restore the plurality of curved piezoelectric elements.

Footwear includes a capacitive sensor, and conductive threads are woven into a fabric of the footwear, the conductive threads serving as the capacitive sensor configured to detect, on the basis of a change in capacitance between the conductive threads adjacent to each other, a change in pressure applied to an area into which the conductive threads are woven.

Footwear includes a capacitive sensor, and conductive threads are woven into a fabric of the footwear, the conductive threads serving as the capacitive sensor configured to detect, on the basis of a change in capacitance between the conductive threads adjacent to each other, a change in pressure applied to an area into which the conductive threads are woven.

A glove includes a capacitive sensor, and conductive threads are woven into a fabric of the glove, the conductive threads serving as the capacitive sensor configured to detect, on the basis of a change in capacitance between the conductive threads adjacent to each other, a change in pressure applied to an area into which the conductive threads are woven.

A glove includes a capacitive sensor, and conductive threads are woven into a fabric of the glove, the conductive threads serving as the capacitive sensor configured to detect, on the basis of a change in capacitance between the conductive threads adjacent to each other, a change in pressure applied to an area into which the conductive threads are woven.