SXSW 2013: Google shows off the 'talking shoe'

Google has shown off a ’talking shoe’ at the South by SouthWest (SXSW) conference in Austin Texas. The shoe — which won’t be hitting the stores ever — has an accelerometer, a gyroscope and bluetooth via which is it monitors the user’s movements and then translates the wearer’s movements into funny, motivating and timely commentary, notes the official site for the talking shoe. Google has partnered with Zach Lieberman and YesYes to create this shoe. The shoe collects all the data via the  accelerometer and gyroscope and this then sent to an app on your mobile to get converted into some funny and at times hurtful commentary. According to Cnet posts says the shoes adopts a personality as well. For instance, if you start running and the shoe has an athletic personality, it will cheer you on. But if it has a lazy personality, it will get upset with you… So the shoe can be your personal trainer, barking at you if you are slow, egging you on when you’re good. [caption id=“attachment_655672” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Screengrab of Google’s talking shoe from YouTube video.[/caption] TechCrunch reports that shoe is part of Google’s new “ Art, Copy, Code project” – which aims to breathe a social, life-like experience into everyday objects.   The project has seen Google partner with advertisers and agencies to re-imagine how brands tell stories in a connected world. According to their official blog_, the project aims to to show how creativity and technology can work hand in hand. It includes familiar brands like Volkswagen, Burberry and adidas—projects developed in partnership with their creative teams and agencies._ But then again do we really want our shoes to talk back to us? It does sound a bit a creepy. It’s even creepier that the things that shoe says can be tweeted out, shared on Google + etc in real-time. Watch the video below: