Strap-On Wheels Move Wearer at 10mph

Regular, push-to-skate roller skates are so last year.

Under consideration for the £10,000 (a bit over $15,000) James Dyson Award is the Treadway Wearable Mobility Project by American Peter Treadway. The Treadway system acts like Heelys, allowing the wearer to transition from walking to wheeled modes quickly. But it features a small electric engine that runs on battery power.

Peter's dream is to perfect his motorized shoes so that they work with conventional footwear and clothing. He's also working on fitting everything into a calf-length boot for each foot, and controlling everything through a wireless remote. In its current form, the Treadway requires a bulky strap-on battery pack for the back, only runs on one foot, and uses potentially dangerous wires. But it can propel the wearer at speeds of up to 10 miles per hour.

Treadway Wearable Mobility