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__ 3-D Modeling and the Footwear Industry __ Across the immense range of industries, the footwear industry is one that could truly benefit from the use and integration of 3-D modeling technologies into the creation and testing of products and prototypes. Footwear as a shopping practice is often hit-or-miss with many consumers and finding the right fit usually precedes style or colour, but with the use of 3-D modeling it can be completely customized and made to fit the customer’s foot perfectly so the consumer can spend more time searching for aesthetics than having to worry about the shoe being uncomfortable or not. There are several aspects of footwear where 3-D modeling technology could vastly improve the quality and comfort of shoes as well as remove the hassle of having to find the right size or fit to accommodate the customer. With the use of a laser scanner, I would take a three-dimensional photograph of the customer’s foot and load it into a program such as Adobe Photoshop for modeling, and then using that program I would be able to create a customized shoe for that customer. Using this technology it is possible to create any kind of foot apparel (be it a running shoe, sandal, business shoe, etc.) that is distinctly made to properly fit and contour to that customer’s specific needs to provide more comfort and flexibility. Additionally, the use of these technologies will also aid those with foot related medical problems such as being flat footed, or even as a way of reducing the possibility of blisters, which is often caused by the foot rubbing within uncomfortable shoes. Three-dimensional modeling could be used to accommodate for many of these common issues, such as being able to accurately create more or less of an arch within the shoe and fit the shoe to sit comfortably on the customer’s foot. This would leave the customer free to choose the texture, styling, and colours of their choice without having to worry about finding the right fit or size, thus providing a much more pleasant and personalized shopping experience. A specific example of where this technology can be directly applied to is in the field of dance and performing arts performers. I conducted an anonymous survey at my younger sister’s dance studio to find out if there was a product for their feet that was not on the market that they deemed desirable, and of what material they would want such a product designed from to optimize comfort. All of the participants responded with answers similar to that of one of the girls’ answers (2010) “[something] light, soft, and breathable … that [won’t] hold heat and [won’t] stand out.” (personal communication, February 1, 2010) Samples of the conducted survey can be examined on Figure 3.0 – Figure 3.3. I responded to their demands by creating the product seen in Figures 1.0 and 2.0. The general premise of the device is a foot-pad, customized to fit snugly against the top of the foot-undergarment the girls wear already. The purpose of the pad is to rest on top of the foot and protect the top of the foot when the girls perform moves that require them to slide or jump onto the ground during their performance, which has leading to extensive bruising and scarring on this area of the foot. A company called Stomatex has created a material they call (2004) “a high-performance breathable neoprene fabric material for protective clothing.” (http://www.stomatex.com/breathable-neoprene-fabric-material.html) The company describes their material (2004) to have many pore-like structures on their material that allows for the regulation of heat through the material as well as allows for the rapid dispelling of sweat that rises up from the user’s pores. (http://www.stomatex.com/breathable-neoprene-fabric-material.html) I have chosen this material specifically because it accurately fits the criteria that the girls at the studio requested and is a material that can be replicated and designed in a 3-D model to create a form-fitting, comfortable product for the dancers to wear. With the use of three-dimensional modeling technologies products such as the protective foot-pad can be created for both niche and mainstream markets within the footwear industry as well as many other industries. Utilizing these technologies, we can make products that allow for flexibility in choice of style, colour, and function while ensuring a foundation that fits their feet perfectly. The technology also allows for the customization of footwear productions for those consumers who may need additional support in their shoes, or if they find that conventional shoes cause irritating blisters or calices on their feet. Finally, using the technology will enable us to address niche issues such as the ones posed by the dancers at my sister’s studio in terms of ergonomic and protective footwear.