Researchers improve efficiency of human walking
nsf.gov
nsf.gov
This is the article: https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?org=NSF&cntn_id=13466...
A more conventional article about the device and related paper.
The thing about this device is I suspect that even if did work, it would just allow people to just further lower their level of coordination and ultimately have rather poor health results.
Essentially "correct," or at least elegant, walking involves balance and a lack of tension. Naturally learning this requires a lot of direct experience since walking is primarily a reflex activity. However, walking is at the same a skill which can be learned and modified if someone looks into hands-on methods.
However, you can get some idea reading about The Alexander Technique, The Feldenkrais Method, Tai Chi and so forth.
[1] http://www.alexandertechnique.com/at.htm [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feldenkrais_Method [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_chi
If the efficiency increase is significant, I could see it becoming common to wear for commuting to work. You could run longer distances with less wear on your body.
The running example would be fun to look at, but I think the benefit this could give to people who have trouble walking is even better. My grandfather had post polio syndrome which made walking incredibly difficult for him for most of his life. He didn't let it stop him, but you could see the pain on his face whenever he walked. I think something like this would have been beneficial for him.
Besides, I bet for ultra-elite marathon runners, the bulk of the shoe would outweigh the benefits it provides. You're talking about people who wear super-light minimalist shoes because it gives them an advantage.
There already is a lot of assistance in athletics, not even limited to footwear. For example, running tracks have 9 lanes nowadays, even though only 8 people start in sprinting events. Reason? The innermost lane is softer, for middle and long distance runners; the other 8 are harder for the shorter distances.
On the other hand, it always surprises me that, in athletics, competitors wear numbers tied to their shirts with safety pins. Especially in the 100m and 200m, the one on the back of the runner must cause significant drag.
Unfortunately, the "high" resolution only holds for the x and y dimensions, not the t dimension.
For lots of adults these days, walking is the only exercise they get. If they're lucky it's a brisk walk.
Making that little bit of exercise consume less energy isn't really a goal in those cases.
Of course, there are still applications for this. They just seem unlike to be found among the sedentary masses.