In a development that could give new meaning to the concept of ‘power walking’, a US company has devised a footwear technology that generates electricity with every step the wearer takes.

Designed with the requirements of the US military in mind, the shoes derive their special powers from an elastic polymer contained within the heel. Attached to a tiny battery that generates negative charges on one side and positive charges on the other, the polymer translates each step compression into a tiny electric pulse. As all energy is stored in the battery, levels of wastage are minimal.

According to the company developing the technology, California-based SRI, the entire unit is small enough to be contained within the heel of a conventional army boot and generates enough electricity to power a cell phone or palmtop device. Boots containing the device are expected to be market-ready around 2004.