The Wizard of Oz inspires GPS-enabled shoes

An artist has added GPS to shoes, so the wearer can be guided home with a click of their heels.

Blinking LED lights point the wearer in the right direction, with the left shoe showing the wearer which direction to walk while the right shoe tells them how far they have to go.

Shoes can be programmed with a “home” location, which automatically points the way following a click of the heels. Sunderland-born artist Dominic Wilcox was inspired by The Wizard of Oz.

“I decided to make a pair of shoes that can navigate you home wherever you are. I thought about The Wizard of Oz and how Dorothy could click her shoes together to go home,” Wilcox says.

Another pair of Wilcox’s shoes, also equipped with GPS, aims to help people with Alzheimer’s because they allow the wearer’s location to be accurately pinpointed.

The GPS system, which is implanted in the heel of what appears to be a normal walking shoe, allows family members or carers to constantly monitor the wearer.

Why stop at shoes? Surely there are other clothing items or accessories that could be equipped with GPS.