With the growing challenges faced by visually impaired and elderly individuals, particularly regarding mobility and safety, the development of advanced assistive technologies has become crucial. This paper presents the design and implementation of an Advanced Blind Stick (ABS) leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The ABS integrates multiple sensors, including ultrasonic sensors for obstacle detection, infrared sensors for fire and pothole/stair detection, a moisture sensor for puddle detection, a GPS module for real-time location tracking, and a thermistor for temperature monitoring. An Arduino microcontroller processes sensor data, providing real-time feedback via a smartphone application. The system also includes an emergency save our soul (SOS) button, allowing users to alert caregivers or emergency services during critical situations. The developed ABS enhances mobility and safety by incorporating advanced features absent in previous models. It uniquely detects puddle, monitors both ambient and user temperature, and retains essential functionalities such as potholes/stair detection, IoT integration, caregiver reporting, SOS, and fire detection. This comprehensive assistive device ensures real-time assistance, improved usability, and greater independence for users. Tested with visually impaired and elderly participants, the ABS demonstrated significant improvements in mobility, safety, and confidence. Its lightweight, cost-effective design makes it particularly beneficial for resource-constrained settings, offering an invaluable tool to enhance the independence and well-being of visually impaired and elderly individuals.
With the growing challenges faced by visually impaired and elderly individuals, particularly regarding mobility and safety, the development of advanced assistive technologies has become crucial. This paper presents the design and implementation of an Advanced Blind Stick (ABS) leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The ABS integrates multiple sensors, including ultrasonic sensors for obstacle detection, infrared sensors for fire and pothole/stair detection, a moisture sensor for puddle detection, a GPS module for real-time location tracking, and a thermistor for temperature monitoring. An Arduino microcontroller processes sensor data, providing real-time feedback via a smartphone application. The system also includes an emergency save our soul (SOS) button, allowing users to alert caregivers or emergency services during critical situations. The developed ABS enhances mobility and safety by incorporating advanced features absent in previous models. It uniquely detects puddle, monitors both ambient and user temperature, and retains essential functionalities such as potholes/stair detection, IoT integration, caregiver reporting, SOS, and fire detection. This comprehensive assistive device ensures real-time assistance, improved usability, and greater independence for users. Tested with visually impaired and elderly participants, the ABS demonstrated significant improvements in mobility, safety, and confidence. Its lightweight, cost-effective design makes it particularly beneficial for resource-constrained settings, offering an invaluable tool to enhance the independence and well-being of visually impaired and elderly individuals. Read More
