A
team of computer scientists from Austria has pioneered a groundbreaking shoe
called InnoMake, designed to aid visually impaired individuals in navigating
obstacles while walking. Tec-Innovation, an Austrian company, collaborated with
Graz University of Technology to develop these shoes, which retail for over
$3,000.
InnoMake
incorporates a waterproof ultrasonic sensor on the toe of each shoe, capable of
detecting obstacles up to 13 feet away. Vibrations and sounds notify the wearer
as they approach objects, with the technology being akin to parking sensors
commonly found in vehicles.
Markus
Raffer, visually impaired co-founder of Tec-Innovation, emphasized its
effectiveness: "This solution works excellently and has already proven to
be a significant aid to me personally."
Each
foot is equipped with a dedicated sensor, available either as a complete shoe
or as a retrofit option. These sensors are capable of discerning the nature of
objects, distinguishing between walls, cars, or stairs, and offering tailored
alerts.
Tec-Innovation
intends to further refine the design of InnoMake by integrating camera-based
recognition and machine learning for enhanced navigation assistance. Subsequent
versions may feature a "street view navigation map" to assist a
broader range of users.
Friedrich
Fraundorfer at TU Graz explained, "They utilize camera images captured
from the foot perspective to identify an obstacle-free area, ensuring safe
navigation, and can also recognize and differentiate various objects."
InnoMake
holds the promise of revolutionizing the lives of visually impaired
individuals, granting them greater independence and safety in navigating their
surroundings.
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