Telephone giant/punching-bag AT&T showed off some undeniably cool future tech at last week's AT&T Technology Showcase in San Francisco--including a concept for AirGraffiti, where mobile phone users can leave videos, photos, and songs "in the air" for others to find--but the one that really grabbed our attention was the demo of "smart slippers."

These cushy slippers give the home network a whole new purpose. They contain sensors that can tell how a person is walking, and then report that data to the home network. If the wearer is unsteady on their feet, the system could issue a warning. If the wearer falls, the system could alert someone. While it's only a concept now, it could one day be a lifesaver for older people living alone.

For more, check out the video of AT&T Labs research director Lusheng Ji showing off a slipper and the monitoring software. At the end of the video, Ji also shows a connected pill holder that can tell people when to take their medicine.