It is now a distinctly easier in life to gain access to the materials and objects that can relive a great deal of every day strain and stress. For instance, the internet can now be used to get ahold of custom orthotics, which, for those of you who are not aware of them, are quite possibly the product with the greatest return when it comes to cost to benefit. For prices ranging from just a few dollars to a couple of hundred, custom orthotics can provide the wearer not only with a significant decrease in daily pain and stress, but also serve as a preventative measure, actively working to stop medical issues from occurring later in life.

These options are available at such cheaper prices and via simpler means by advancements in a few very critical pieces of technology, possibly the most important of which, the simple smartphone. There are companies out there that have the capacity to take pictures submitted by a customer of their feet, and take the necessary measurements from them to produce a pair of custom orthotics. How do they do this you ask? Well, it is via to things called image recognition and three dimensional printing. First, the image recognition software analyzes the images and measures the feet by comparing them to the other known objects in the photo, like a piece of paper. There are a few standard sizes of paper that everyone uses, and as a result the computer can take that into account and make the necessary measurements and comparisons.

Next, the computer takes that data and designs a 3d model of the person’s feet. From there, the information is sent the information over to a three dimensional printer which literally prints an exact duplicate of the person’s feet. These duplicates are then used to design the custom orthotics. After the actual orthotics have been made, they are shipped to the customer wherever they are in the world.

This whole process can take just a few hours from start to finish. The longest period of time taken in the steps is actually just delivering the insoles to the person’s door. It is so simple, anyone who knows how to use a smartphone can do it. Comfort and pain relief are just a few clicks away for everyone, and since the process has been digitized, the costs have been dropped as well, making custom orthotics affordable for just about everyone.