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.

An article of footwear includes an upper member and a sole structure, with a sensor system connected to the sole structure. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured for detecting forces exerted by a user's foot on the sensor. The sensor system also includes a port that is configured to receive a module to place the module in communication with the sensors. The port includes a housing with a chamber configured to receive the module and an interface engaged with the housing and having at least one electrical contact exposed to the chamber. Additional retaining structure and interface structure may be included.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear with controller automated features, methods for making/using such footwear, and control systems for executing automated features of intelligent electronic footwear. An intelligent electronic shoe includes an upper that attaches to a user's foot, and a sole structure attached to the upper for supporting thereon the user's foot. A collision threat warning system, a detection tag, a wireless communications device, and a footwear controller are all mounted to the sole structure/upper. The detection tag receives a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module and responsively transmits thereto a response signal. The footwear controller receives, through the wireless communications device, a pedestrian collision warning signal generated by the remote computing node responsive to the response signal. Responsively, the footwear controller transmits a command signal to the collision threat warning system to generate a visible, audible and/or tactile alert warning the user of an impending collision with a vehicle.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear with controller automated features, methods for making/using such footwear, and control systems for executing automated features of intelligent electronic footwear. An intelligent electronic shoe includes an upper that attaches to a user's foot, and a sole structure attached to the upper for supporting thereon the user's foot. A collision threat warning system, a detection tag, a wireless communications device, and a footwear controller are all mounted to the sole structure/upper. The detection tag receives a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module and responsively transmits thereto a response signal. The footwear controller receives, through the wireless communications device, a pedestrian collision warning signal generated by the remote computing node responsive to the response signal. Responsively, the footwear controller transmits a command signal to the collision threat warning system to generate a visible, audible and/or tactile alert warning the user of an impending collision with a vehicle.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear with controller automated features, methods for making/using such footwear, and control systems for executing automated features of intelligent electronic footwear. An intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes an upper that attaches to a user's foot, and a sole structure that is attached to the upper and supports thereon the user's foot. An alert system, which is mounted to the sole structure and/or upper, generates predetermined outputs in response to electronic command signals. The IES system also includes a wireless communications device that wirelessly communicates with a remote computing node, and a footwear controller that communicates with the wireless communications device and alert system. The footwear controller receives location data indicative of the user's and remote computing node's locations, determines whether the user's location is within a predetermined location/proximity to the node's location and, if so, transmits command signals to the alert system to notify the user/vehicle.

A bubble creation device is disposed in a sole of a shoe and include a soapy water container for storing soapy water, a bubble blowing module, and at least one tube having two ends connected to the soapy water container and the bubble blowing module respectively and being in fluid communication therewith. The bubble blowing module includes a channel in a housing and having an outlet open to the atmosphere, and an air inlet open to the atmosphere; a blowing unit in the housing for flowing air from the channel to the outlet; a film forming unit through the outlet and communicating with the at least one tube; a power unit in the housing for supplying power to the blowing unit; and an on/off switch on the sole for controlling an activation of the blowing unit.

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.

Methods of enhancing a sensory experience to simulate a live event are provided. One includes providing an audible signal representing sound information; generating a vibration signal based on the audible signal and enhanced information that would be present at the live event; and providing the vibration signal to at least one vibration device for stimulating nerve receptors in a foot area, the vibration signal synchronized with the audible signal to produce a perception in the brain of being present at the live event. Another method includes generating a vibration signal representing vibrations including tactile vibrations for stimulating nerve receptors in a foot to simulate being present at a live event, and vibrations based on reproduced sound information; and providing the signal to at least one vibration device for delivering the vibrations to the feet, the tactile vibrations based on enhanced information different from the sound information and including non-audible elements.

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.