Lisbon hosts Web Summit

More than 50.000 people converged on the Web Summit in Lisbon, Europe’s largest technology conference.

The perfect venue for start-ups and investors to meet, it featured a wide array of novelties including assistance robot WiiGO.

Tracking users thanks to its visual recognition system, it is designed to help people with reduced mobility.

“It’s basically a totally autonomous shopping cart that was designed to follow a person with reduced mobility, helping them carry their goods around a shopping centre for example,” said Luis de Matos, CEO of Follow Inspiration, the start-up behind WiiGO.

Kinematix’s TUNE app is a digital personal trainer that analyses daily exercise and provides tailored feedback. It works using thin, durable insoles equipped with tiny sensors that capture every step. The information is then sent to a smartphone or smartwatch app. Combined with GPS data, it creates a detailed running profile.

“What makes TUNE innovative is that it monitors foot behaviour as soon as the foot touches the ground,” explained Kinematix CEO Paulo Santos. “To monitor the feet is very hard because you need to monitor from inside the shoe – there’s humidity and friction, which destroys sensors – but ours are long-lasting, allowing us to analyse the moment the foot touches the ground, which is a split second and from that to understand the technique and behaviour of the runner.”

And tech maker Lapa claims you will never lose your keys again thanks to its Bluetooth tracker.

The waterproof device can be attached to anything from keys, wallets, handbags or even pets. The app simply beeps as the owner approaches. Beware, however, not to exceed the sixty metre range or to lose your phone carrying the app.