Introducing the
Navigational Aid for the Visually Impaired
(NAVI) Device
"Turning Boundaries into Pathways. One Step at a Time."
Product Vision
Despite advancements in wearable tech and smart systems, millions of blind and visually impaired individuals continue to face daily challenges navigating both familiar and unfamiliar environments. Traditional aids such as canes and service animals are helpful but have limitations in range, flexibility, and adaptability to complex, modern spaces. Furthermore, many assistive technologies currently on the market are either prohibitively expensive or fail to deliver intuitive, real-time feedback necessary for safe and confident navigation. This technological gap leaves a significant portion of the visually impaired community underserved, with limited access to effective and affordable navigation aids.
Existing Solutions
A range of assistive technologies currently exists to support visually impaired individuals, each offering varying levels of effectiveness. Traditional tools such as the white cane and service animals remain widely used, providing tactile feedback and mobility support. However, these solutions often fall short in detecting elevated or fast-approaching obstacles and require significant training or cost. In recent years, wearable tech like the Sunu Band and Wayband has introduced haptic feedback systems that detect nearby objects or guide users via GPS, while advanced devices like OrCam MyEye and eSight offer visual recognition and magnification through camera systems. Despite their innovation, many of these products are expensive, bulky, or limited. Most notably, there remains a lack of compact, intuitive, and affordable solutions that offer real-time spatial awareness in a variety of settings — highlighting a gap that NAVI aims to fill.
Our Solution
To bridge this gap, our team is developing NAVI—a wearable navigational aid designed to empower visually impaired individuals with greater independence, spatial awareness, and confidence in their daily movement.
NAVI utilizes a network of real-time proximity sensors to detect obstacles across a broad field of view, including varying heights and directions. When an object is detected, the system instantly delivers intuitive vibrational cues via multiple localized haptic motors, allowing users to sense the direction and proximity of nearby hazards without relying on sight or sound.
Innovation in Context
NAVI Compared to Competitors
Product | Size & Portability | Key Features | Cost | Mounting Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The NAVI | Lightweight, Self-Contained, Wearable | Mid-range Infrared, 360° degree detection, Haptic response, Battery Monitorin | Low-Mid (Estimated) | Glasses |
Sunu Band | Lightweight, Self-Contained, Wearable | Mid-range Ultrasonic, Linear Detection, Haptic Feedback, Bluetooth Smartphone Integration | $249 | Wristband |
WeWALK Smart Cane | Full-length Cane with Grip, Moderate Weight | Short-range Ultrasonic, Linear Detection, Haptic Feedback, AI Voice Assistant, Navigation, Bluetooth Smartphone Integration | $850 + Subscription for Advanced Features | Handheld Cane |
OrCam MyEye | Lightweight, Self-Contained, Wearable | AI Assistant, Handwriting, Text, and Facial Recognition, Voice Commands | $4250 - $4490 | Glasses |
Blinry Haptic Compass Belt | Moderate Weight, Self-Contained Wearable | Compass Sensor, Haptic Feedback | Low-Mid (Estimated) | Beltband |
