lIoT-Enabled Smart Wearables for Improved Visual Impairment Navigation
Prasad Yeole, Yash Labade, Nikhil Wabale, Rahul Patil, Siddhant Wagh, Peter William · 2024
This study introduces a novel Internet of Things (IoT) assistive technology designed to increase the mobility and self-sufficiency of visually impaired people. Over 40 million individuals, including over 1.6 million children, are visually impaired in India, and getting around in daily life is still exceedingly difficult. Walking canes and other traditional aids are not always effective in identifying hazards at different heights and angles. The suggested system integrates smart shoes and spectacles with buzzers, microcontrollers, and ultrasonic sensors. The smart glasses recognise obstructions at head height by extending detection beyond the level of the shoes, which continuously monitors the ground for obstacles. The system ensures better spatial awareness by alerting users in real-time with audio when an obstacle is spotted. The IoT-enabled communication between shoes and smart glasses is a significant innovation since it enables synchronized obstacle identification and reaction. With its all-encompassing coverage, this integrated strategy enhances user mobility and safety. The system is lightweight, ergonomically sound, dependable, and made for everyday use. Future additional improvements might include GPS integration for accurate navigation and machine learning for anticipatory obstacle identification. This study demonstrates how people with visual impairments can live much better thanks to wearable Internet of Things devices.