Smart shoes with in-built motion sensors can teach you how to dance

Dancing is a daunting prospect for anyone who needs to do it sober.

And if you lack rhythm, there is now a pair of smart shoes that can teach you how to dance without leaving the house.

Solid Pixels launched a crowdfunding campaign to make Rhythm Shoes – a pair of smart trainers that use Bluetooth technology to give dance tutorials – a reality by the end of the year. The shoes sync to your smartphone using Bluetooth, while the soles are fitted with pressure sensors to track the wearer’s movements.

It can be paired with an app which lets users watch tutorials and dance along to the beat in real-time.

The Rhythm trainers are fitted with motion and pressure sensors to keep the wearer dancing to the beat. (Picture: Solid Pixels)

The tech firm, which launched the crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo earlier this year, has only raised $845 (£678) of its $40,000 target so far, but if the trainers are a hit, Solid Pixels plans to begin distributing them worldwide from December 2017, just in time for Christmas.

Early bird offers were released on IndieGoGo earlier this month, with some Rhythm Shoes starting at around $150 (£120).

The Rhythm Shoes app lets you choose your preferred style of dance, from the classic waltz to saucy salsa, Hip Hop and even breakdancing. You can track your progress, as the app uses haptic technology (the same technology used to detect movement on your smartphone screen) to make sure you’re sticking to the beat. The more you practice, the more rewards you can earn and moves you can master.

The shoes connect with your smart technology so you can practice your moves wherever you are.(Picture: Solid Pixels)

The app will also alert you when you’re off-beat and tell you how to improve. The shoes don’t just work with your smartphone. They can be paired with iPad and Apple TV devices so you can learn to dance with your friends, too.

The Rhythm Shoes let you learn with other people. (Picture: Solid Pixels)

The app allows you to form your own dancing community, or even find partners to waltz with. You can set up your profile to find new dance partners, share your progress or challenge your friends. According developer, it took over 3,000 hours of designing, testing and prototyping to create the smart trainers.

‘We have done our homework,’ they said a statement on the crowdfunding page, ‘so the risks are minimal. What you are seeing in our videos and pictures are prototypes. The final product will be even better!’