Horizon scan, innovation. Tactile sight wayfinding belt
Developed by Tactile Sight, a spinoff of the University of Waterloo, the Tactile Belt functions much as a route planner such as Google Maps, with the difference that users don’t have to rely on their vision while navigating. Four vibrating motors for the four directions are integrated in the belt. Each vibration tells the user where to go next. Via a Bluetooth interface, it is possible to connect a smartphone to the device. The Tactile Belt is being clinically trialled at the Toronto Rehab Institute, already indicating the better efficiency and lower errors than when utilising verbal navigation. Possible user groups include visually impaired people, Alzheimer patients and rescue or military tasks in areas with limited vision.
Company: Tactile Sight Inc., Canada (spinoff of the University of Waterloo)
Components: belt with integrated sensors and four vibrating directional motors, GPS navigator, digital compass, Bluetooth interface connected to a mobile phone