Austrian Startup Tec-Innovation Launches InnoMake: A Smart Shoe to Aid Visually Impaired and Elderly Mobility
Austrian startup Tec-Innovation has introduced InnoMake, an innovative smart shoe designed to help visually impaired, blind, and elderly individuals navigate their surroundings more safely and independently. This intelligent footwear incorporates advanced sensor technology paired with real-time feedback to alert users about obstacles ahead.
How InnoMake Works
Equipped with ultrasonic sensors at the front, InnoMake can detect objects up to four meters away. Upon sensing an obstacle, the shoe delivers haptic (vibration) alerts directly to the wearer’s foot. It also offers acoustic notifications via a connected smartphone and visual signals through an ultra-bright built-in LED, ensuring multiple layers of awareness for the user.
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Technology and Features
The shoe integrates several components, including distance sensors, foot motion detectors, a vibration unit, and wireless smartphone connectivity, all housed in a water- and dust-resistant module. A rechargeable battery powers the system, lasting up to a week on a full charge, which takes about three hours via Micro-USB.
Academic Partnership and Future Enhancements
Tec-Innovation collaborated with Graz University of Technology to develop InnoMake. The research team is advancing the product with plans for a future model featuring a camera-enabled sensor module driven by deep-learning algorithms. This upgrade aims to recognize walkable paths and create navigation maps based on aggregated user location data, further enhancing mobility support.
Practical Impact and Availability
InnoMake is tailored not only for the visually impaired but also for the elderly and emergency responders who require enhanced obstacle detection. The current model is commercially available at $3,886 per pair. While no official release date has been announced for the camera-enhanced version, InnoMake already represents a major step forward in smart wearable technology designed to improve everyday mobility and independence.
