iStrategyLabs’ App Helps End Ackward Situations

Have you ever been stuck in an awkward situation, praying your phone would ring so you could politely extract yourself? Of course you have. That’s why D.C.-based iStrategyLabs came up with a bright idea and developed Dorothy, a physical trigger that makes any dumb-shoe smart. Dorothy consists of the “Ruby” (a small, connected device that slips into your shoe) and a mobile App that allows you to trigger a call to your phone from a fake contact (your “boss”) whenever you tap your heels together three times. Dorothy can also send text messages to your contacts with a custom message and your current location, letting them know exactly where you are.

Dorothy is powered by the LightBlue Bean, an Arduino micro-controller with a built in Bluetooth chip, accelerometer, and coin cell battery. Simply clip the “Ruby” into your shoe, connect it to the Dorothy iPhone App, and select your desired action after a successful trigger (three-heel clicks). The onboard accelerometer sends a signal to your phone via Bluetooth (listening for spikes in the data over a short period of time).

For more on Dorothy and Ruby, check-out the iStrategyLab blog.