Swiss startup Biped has released a smart harness at the Consumer Electronics Show that uses autonomous driving technology to allow visually impaired or blind people to detect obstacles seconds in advance.
Called Biped.ai, the wearable technology has a minimalist design, with in-built 3D cameras that can be paired with headphones or Bluetooth earphones to warn users about the position of obstacles around them.
"The vest sits on the shoulders, and thanks to its 3D cameras, can detect and predict the trajectories of all surrounding elements, a few seconds in advance, just like an autonomous vehicle," Biped cofounder Mael Fabien told Dezeen.
"It generates 3D audio feedback to warn the users about the position of the important elements around them," he continued. Biped.ai is a wearable device designed for visually impaired and blind people
While working in an ophthalmic hospital in Lausanne, Fabien noticed that many blind and visually impaired patients sought alternative aids to traditional sticks and guide dogs.
"Starting to walk with a device that is ergonomic and intuitive brings confidence and eases acceptance of the other solutions too," he said. "It's a good complement during mobility training."
Fabien came up with the idea for the Biped.ai device with his business partner Bruno Vollmer, during the International Create Challenge hackathon in Switzerland.
"Inspired by autonomous vehicles, it integrates the latest advances of rese...