Austrian computer scientists have unveiled InnoMake, a $3,000 high-tech shoe designed to help blind individuals navigate obstacles. Created by
Tec-Innovation and Graz University of Technology, it features waterproof ultrasonic sensors on each toe that detect obstacles up to 13 feet away.
When wearers approach an object, vibrations and sounds—similar to car parking sensors—alert them. Markus Raffer,
a visually impaired co-founder of Tec-Innovation, praised its real-life benefits. Each foot has its own sensor,
available as a complete shoe or a retrofit, capable of identifying walls, cars, or stairs and giving tailored alerts.
Future upgrades may add camera-based recognition and machine learning to create a “street view navigation map” for more precise guidance.
Friedrich Fraundorfer of TU Graz says InnoMake could transform daily life for visually impaired people, offering greater independence and safety.
