Wearable Haptic Displays

White canes are a simple, robust solution for local navigation and obstacle avoidance. However, white canes have several flaws. They are often stigmatized, require physical exertion, occupy one hand, need physical contact with the environment, and can only detect obstacles by point contact at heights up to the users’ chests.

We propose soft wearable tactile displays consisting of a mechanical feedback device coupled to a sensor or camera technology. Combined with perception and planning algorithms, this system is a potential solution to enable people with visual impairments to navigate their environment discreetly and effortlessly.

This solution is not an attempt to recreate sight, but to process sensor or camera information into useful navigational information that the user can rely on to create a mental map of their surroundings. Embedding small and lightweight sensors along with haptic devices in clothes allows for seamless integration of wearable navigation technology into the lives of visually impaired people.