Honda Designed An In-Shoe Navigation System To Help The Visually Impaired

GPS navigation has revolutionized how we travel, but the visually impaired have largely been left behind.

Honda is looking to change that with a new company called Ashirase, which is developing an “in-shoe navigation system” which is set to be launched before March 31st, 2023.

The navigation system consists of a smartphone app and a three-dimensional vibration device with a motion sensor. The latter is attached to shoes and will vibrate telling people where to go.

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As Honda explained, when the user should be going straight, the vibrator positioned in the front of the device vibrates to tell them to continue going forward. When it comes time to turn, the vibrator will vibrate on the left or right side to indicate the direction they should go.

Honda says the navigation system is intuitive and will enable users to “walk more safely” with a “more relaxed state of mind.” The company also noted the shoe-based approach doesn’t impact a user’s ability to use a cane or listen to ambient noise such as traffic.

It’s an interesting idea and Honda noted there were approximately 1.64 million people in Japan with a visual impairment in 2007. That number is expected to climb to nearly 2 million by 2030.

The navigation system was developed by Wataru Chino, after one of this family members suffered an accident and this turned his attention to developing mobility devices for visually impaired people. He then applied to Honda’s new business creation program called IGNITION, which allows Honda associates in Japan to submit ideas and proposals which could be commercialized within the company or through a startup venture.