Sensory Augmentation for the Visually Impaired - A Novel Navigation System.

Abstract

Recent reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that over 2.2 billion people worldwide are affected by visual impairment (VI), with prevalence up to four times higher in low- and middle-income regions. Independent mobility is essential for quality of life, yet traditional mobility aids such as white canes, guide dogs, and human assistance remain constrained by limited environmental awareness and functionality. This research investigates how Electronic Travel Aids (ETAs) can provide accurate, timely, and comprehensive environmental information to support safe navigation. This study proposes a novel multi-node ETA framework comprising three wirelessly connected wearable nodes integrated into a glasses, belt, and cane platform. Guided by Orientation and Mobility principles and Hall’s proxemic theory, the framework distributes sensing across the body to maximise environmental coverage while reducing blind spots.