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A toe tickling in-shoe navigation system for visually impaired people

It’s a fact—technology plays a vital role in tearing down barriers and making real inroads into improving accessibility

Honda-backed startup Ashirase has created a GPS navigation that uses a series of haptic ‘tickles’ to help guide users as they walk.

Yet, something like a walking cane, which is designed to help visually impaired people navigate, hasn’t seen much notable innovation.

Hoping to change that, Honda EV-engineer Wataru Chino has come up with a design solution in the shape of a wearable that uses vibrations to signal different directions.

Ashirase - A toe tickling in-shoe navigation system for visually impaired people
Wataru Chino, Representative Director of Ashirase, Inc. holding a shoe with the Ashirase navigation system – © Ashirase

It’s a compact system made up of two parts, a dedicated Ashirase navigation app and a silicone shoe insert that vibrates to signal when and where a user can walk.

Developed by Ashirase — a business venture funded by Honda’s New Business Creation Program — the navigation device is designed to be placed inside the wearer’s shoe and holds a combination motion sensor-electronic compass that use a series of haptic sensors to tickle the wearer and help guide them as they walk.

Aligned with the foot’s nerve layer, the vibrators are easy to feel.

Aligned with the foot’s nerve layer, the vibrators are easy to feel – © Ashirase

The user simply programs their walking destination into the app and the shoe inserts will vibrate in various patterns and tempos depending on the direction.

Curious to discover more innovative navigation technologies? Check out A cyclists’ best friend – The compass-style Velo 2 sat nav

For example, vibrations under the balls of the feet mean to “walk forward” while “turn left” rubs the appropriate side of both feet to indicate a turn or obstacle.

The speed at which the inserts vibrate indicates how close the turn or obstacle is.

Ashirase - A toe tickling in-shoe navigation system for visually impaired people
Soft material that maintains its original shape is used for the device in order to limit any discomfort to the user – © Ashirase

The app works as you might expect, by localising the user based on GPS and data based on the user’s foot movement.

It connects to a range of various mapping services like Google Maps by adapting to different information available on different maps. 

According to Ashirase, this form of intuitive navigation helps the walker attain a more relaxed state of mind.

In-shoe GPS - shoes and smartphone
Ashirase vibration device is attached to shoes and Ashirase smartphone app – © Ashirase

The point is to provide a more intuitive and effective alternative to using a smartphone, which dictates directions and could potentially leave the user exposed.

The company also plans to integrate the app in a bunch of cool ways so it can be used where GPS doesn’t meet.

For example, in a shopping mall, it plans to use WiFi or Bluetooth-based positioning, connecting to other devices and cell phones within the store, to localize the user.

Ashirase - A toe tickling in-shoe navigation system for visually impaired people
The device is expected to launch to the public by the end of March 2023 – © Ashirase

The company is also considering ways to integrate with public transit systems so that the device can alert a user if they have arrived or are near their next stop. 

That would be a lot of tech packed into one tiny shoe gadget.

The device is expected to launch to the public by the end of March 2023 when Ashirase will unveil a direct-to-consumer model as well as a subscription model.

Technology is having a huge impact on the everyday life of people with disabilities. Don’t miss Six 3D-printed limbs advancing the future of prosthetic design.

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