LG Electronics ‘monster’ NFT digital virtual shoes to be showcased at CES 2023

[Courtesy of LG Electronics]

SEOUL — At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a global tech event to be held in January in Las Vegas, LG Electronics will unveil “monster” digital virtual shoes made with non-fungible token (NFT) technology, along with a shoe care and storage exhibition where luxury sneakers and limited editions can be stored with optimal humidity and temperature.

Customers can collect 5,500 unique designs of NFT shoes while managing and appreciating actual and NFT shoes together through an app. LG has developed monster shoes jointly with the department of game and virtual reality design at Induk University in Seoul. NFT is a unit of data stored on a blockchain network of interlinked virtual ledgers. Each NFT is certified by a blockchain as a unique digital asset that is not interchangeable. 

In Las Vegas, LG will run a “phygital (physical plus digital)” experience zone where customers can use holograms and art toys to see and try NFT shoes inside a styler shoe case using augmented reality technology. NFT shoes will be available by lottery from January 25. Customers can store and trade NFT shoes acquired through cryptocurrency wallets.

Phygital is a marketing term that describes blending digital experiences with physical ones. Phygital experiences can add value by enhancing physical experiences with information but augmenting digital experiences with human connections or physical enhancements. 

“We will provide a differentiated customer experience through  Styler ShoeCase and ShoeCare, which is a next-generation premium shoe management solution, and unique NFT shoes,” LG’s living appliance division head Baek Seung-tae said in a statement on December 21. The company will release its premium shoe care solution at home in the first half of 2023 by applying regenerative plastic to the exterior. 

The shoe care solution features transparent panels, a 360-degree rotating turntable, and a modular design that makes it possible to stack up to four cases on top of one another. LG employed its proven technology for refreshing shoe management and a filter to soak up moisture and remove smells. An intuitive app allows users to remotely control and monitor shoes.