Making Gait Visible: Actionable Insights for Augmented Foot Interfaces

Despite hardware advancements in smart footwear, translating complex biomechanical data into actionable insights remains a critical challenge in Bio-HCI. Current systems often overwhelm users with raw metrics, creating an actionability gap. To address this, we conducted a two-phase User-Centered Design approach. A formative qualitative study with 10 athletes revealed profound cognitive overload from raw data, a strong need for somatosensory translation, and a demand for proactive, real-time vibrotactile intervention over retrospective dashboards. Second, an expert walkthrough with an orthopedic specialists validated the concept of translating this data into more actionable insights. Based on these insights, we propose a generalized design framework for smart footwear that shifts the paradigm from passive data collection to closed-loop, somatosensory bio-feedback. By providing real-time, embodied interventions, this approach bridges the gap between clinical diagnostics and preventive health, laying the foundation for actionable augmented foot interfaces.