IoT Based Assistive Walker Device for Frail & Visually Impaired People

The frequency of falling among elderly and visually impaired people is constantly increasing. This problem affects a large number of people who need additional support to maintain balance and stability while walking. The objective of this study is to design a smart assistive walker device for frail & visually impaired people to reduce the risk of falling and the costly emergency interventions and hospitalizations. The proposed device is based on the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) to determine and communicate the location and the path of the person for possible action. The device contains hardware and software parts. The former, covering the electrical part of the walker with three components: Sensor, controller, output, and the later contains two components; "Map" and "Find Me" Apps. The IoT treats the information received from the sensors (position, objects, and people around) and sends commands to the controller to guide the walker to fulfill the elderly needs safely. Using the IoT concept and smart device design, we expect a reduction in the number of falls and a contribution in the prevention of disability among elderly and visually impaired people.