A category whose isomorphisms induce an equivalence relation coarser than shape (Q2577131)

The authors establish for compact metric spaces a category \(\mathcal S^*\) together with a functor \(S^*: Sh \rightarrow \mathcal S^*\) which preserves objects, i.e., \(S^*(X)= X\), having many pleasant properties: Consider the following properties \(P_1, \cdots, P_7\): \(P_1:\) \(X\) is connected; \(P_2:\) \(sh(X)=0\); \(P_3:\) The fundamental dimension \(Fd\;X\leq n\); \(P_4:\) \(X\) is \(n\)-shape connected; \(P_5:\) \(X\) is movable; \(P_6:\) \(X\) is \(n\)-movable; \(P_7:\) \(X\) is an FANR. If \(X,\;Y\) are compact metric, \(S^*(X)= S^*(Y)\), and \(X\) has property \(P_k\), \(k=1,\dots,7\), then so has \(Y\). In particular if \(X,\;Y \) are ANRs, then \(X\) and \(Y\) are homotopy equivalent. Let \(p: E \rightarrow B\) be a shape fibration (a concept introduced by S. Mardesic and B. T. Rushing) with connected base \(B\), then all fibers are equivalent in \(\mathcal S^*\). There are compact metric spaces \(X,\;Y\) having different shape, but \(S^*(X) =S^*(Y)\). These spaces \(X,\;Y\) appear as fibers of shape fibrations with connected base. The construction of the category \(\mathcal S^*\) is accomplished by using inverse systems of ANRs approximating the given spaces. The intention of the authors is apparently to repair the fact that there are shape fibrations with connected base and not shape equivalent fibers.