IoT-enabled smart shoes for the blind

Abstract

IoT-enabled smart shoes for the blind is equipped with ultrasonic sensors paired with an Arduino UNO board. The Internet of Things (IoT) facilitates communication among physical objects and between objects and humans. This enabling technology is experiencing rapid development and growth in the market. In India, there are nearly 40 million blind individuals, including 1.6 million children. Blind people encounter significant challenges in traveling independently and rely on others for various aspects of daily life. A major difficulty arises when navigating roads, as their canes may not detect every obstacle. The smart shoe design offers a long-term solution, enabling blind individuals to travel independently on roads. This shoe incorporates IoT technology, embedding various sensors, a microcontroller, and buzzers. The shoe alerts the user with buzzer sounds upon detecting obstacles ahead. To enhance efficiency, smart glasses using IoT technology have been developed, equipped with sensors to detect objects over a wider area. The smart shoes and smart glasses communicate and coordinate to ensure the user avoids collisions with obstacles in their path.