Are you curious about those unique-looking shoes people are wearing? Well, let us introduce you to the revolutionary InnoMake shoes developed by computer scientists from Austria.
These shoes have been specifically designed to assist blind individuals in navigating their surroundings and avoiding obstacles while walking. The collaboration between Tec-Innovation, an Austrian company, and Graz University of Technology resulted in the creation of these incredible shoes.
Here’s how it works: each shoe is equipped with a waterproof ultrasonic sensor on the toe, which can detect obstacles up to 13 feet away. As the wearer approaches an obstacle, the shoes use vibrations and sounds to alert them. It’s similar to the parking sensors you find in vehicles, but for your feet!
Markus Raffer, a visually impaired co-founder of Tec-Innovation, couldn’t be happier with the shoes’ effectiveness. He says, “This works very well and is already a great help to me personally.”
What’s even more impressive is that each foot has its own dedicated sensor, and you can choose to buy a complete shoe with the sensors already integrated or opt for a retrofit option. These sensors can even identify the nature of an object, whether it’s a wall, a car, or a set of stairs, providing customized alerts to the wearer.
But that’s not all. Tec-Innovation has bigger plans for InnoMake’s future. They are looking to incorporate camera-based recognition and machine learning into the design, which will ultimately enhance the navigation assistance provided by the shoes. Imagine having a “street view navigation map” right on your feet!
Friedrich Fraundorfer, a researcher at TU Graz, explains, “They use camera images from the foot perspective to determine an area that is free of obstacles and thus safe to walk on, and they can recognize and distinguish objects.”
The impact of InnoMake on visually impaired individuals is truly incredible. These shoes have the potential to transform lives by empowering people to navigate their surroundings more independently and safely.
So, the next time you see someone wearing these remarkable shoes, you now know the story behind them. It’s an innovation that is making a difference in the lives of visually impaired individuals, providing them with the freedom to explore the world around them.
