Shoes for the blind developed in Brazil
Alexandre Olímpio de Souza, an electro-electronics teacher at the
A sensor in the sole emits signals that trigger a buzzer which lets the person know how far or how near an obstacle is. This way the visually impaired can find their way without the need for a cane or a guide dog.
The prototype model is said to be comfortable and resistant, offering good mobility and reliability at an affordable cost. The sensor and other electronic parts may be removed and fitted to a new pair once the current pair becomes unusable.
No large modifications were necessary to fit the electronics to the shoes. The production of a sensor with good front and peripheral sight/range is being considered as a sensor with the right features is crucial to the success of the project.
At the present experimental stage, the total cost of a pairs of these special shoes for the blind is R$ 459 ($183) but it should drop significantly in large-scale production.
