Textiles researchers at Nottingham Trent University have developed shoe laces which light up and flash thanks to light emitting diodes (LEDs). The idea could be leveraged to enhance the safety at night for joggers and cyclists, the researchers suggested. The innovative laces were created by scholars at the university’s Advanced Textiles Research Group (ATRG) in collaboration with QinetiQ, a science and engineering company. The laces are powered by a battery embedded within the shoe’s sole, and are switched on or off by the wearer by tapping the two shoes together. The LEDs are integrated in a waterproof resin, which makes the laces fully washable. The LED-embedded laces could be used in the athletic and leisure industries as well as other sectors like healthcare, defense and security, according to developers.

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