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.

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 sport-boot pressure monitoring system and method of use. The system includes a left boot sensor having a left flexible fluid-containing bladder shaped to fit between a user's left leg and an interior surface of a left boot worn by the user and a left pressure sense element in pressure-sensing communication with the left flexible fluid-containing bladder, a right boot sensor that is similar to the left one, and a controller to provide a pressure alert if pressure between one of the user's legs and the interior surface of the boot worn on that leg violates a predetermined pressure threshold and to provide a proximity alert if a distance between the left and right boots violates a predetermined proximity threshold.

An article of footwear that produces an audio component for a performance includes a rigid heel assembly that attaches to the article of footwear. The rigid heel assembly has a cavity with an open end. The cavity houses an audio transmission assembly that includes a transmitter. A microphone converts the audio component of the performance into a digital audio signal and is operatively connected to the audio transmission assembly which wirelessly transmits the digital audio signal of the audio of the performance.

A device and a method for identifying a motion pattern of a person that allow suitable feedback about an identified motion pattern to be produced in real time, to address the disadvantage that there is no provision for direct feedback to the person in the event of abnormal behavior being detected. This is achieved by virtue of a device for identifying a motion pattern of a person having at least one sensor for capturing motion parameters and at least one evaluation unit, which is couplable to the at least one sensor, for evaluating the motion parameters and for producing a motion pattern.

An automatic lacing system for an article of footwear includes a motor, a gear train coupled to the motor, a speaker, and a speaker controller in communication with the speaker and the motor. The speaker controller is configured to instruct the speaker to output a damping sound wave in response to activation of the motor to reduce or cancel sound generated by the motor or the gear train.

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.

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.

An article of footwear that produces an audio component for a performance includes a rigid heel assembly that attaches to the article of footwear. The rigid heel assembly has a cavity with an open end. The cavity houses an audio transmission assembly that includes a transmitter. A microphone converts the audio component of the performance into a digital audio signal and is operatively connected to the audio transmission assembly which wirelessly transmits the digital audio signal of the audio of the performance.