Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
"Bun is such a sad word, is it not?" -- Watt, "Waiting for Godot"

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


   

Running Shoe Ad Running Shoes

Just Do It
  (+1)
(+1)
  [vote for,
against]

Running shoes have become overpriced status symbols for an undereducated public, built in 3rd world slave labor factories and sold at astronomical markups, and people pay these prices while adorning themselves with advertising for companies. Why do so many people pay such outrageous prices for shoes? Because the advertisements build an aura of mystique around the shoes.

The next step is a blend of high-tech and clever marketing: Running shoes that display ads for themselves while you wear them.

The shell of the shoe will be constructed, not with exotic materials like naugahyde, but instead with a flexible liquid crystal display. Power will be provided by rechargeable batteries located in the sole, along with the electronics. The batteries will be charged with the kinetic energy put into the shoe by the athlete through a set of coils in the heel that will move in a fixed magnetic field.

They will be programmable, so aftermarket sales will include “skins” for the shoes. Intense target marketing will insure that nobody will want to be seen with last week’s shoe ad. A hacker subculture may emerge with customized skins for people who don’t want be walking shoe company billboards.

MotoMannequin, Aug 20 2001


Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.



Annotation:







       My hat's off to you PeterSealy, had to give it a +1, but damn, I thought this one was so off the wall I had to be the 1st. Anyway, you're right about the walking billboards, I intended this idea to be a little bit of a satire on that subject.
MotoMannequin, Aug 20 2001
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle