# Obstacle-Sensing Wearables Guidesense Relays Obstacles to the Blind Through Haptic Feedback By Joey Haar | Published 2017-01-13 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/guidesense References: [digitaltrends](http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/guidesense/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=webfeeds) & [guidesense](http://www.guidesense.com/) Guidesense is a new [assistive wearable](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xanderglasses-connect) from the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland. The device, which is designed to aid visually impaired people with mobility in day-to-day life, can sense objects and obstacles in the surrounding environment and relay those obstacles to its user through the use of both [haptic and audio feedback](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/accessible-mobile-technology). Guidesense is worn around one's waist. The fanny pack-sized device contains millimeter wave radar sensors that are capable of detecting even minute objects in front of the wearer. If it senses that the wearer is approaching a nearby obstacle, vibrating motors inside the device will buzz an alert. Guidesense's developers ran the device through a short test with 25 visually impaired people, and 80 percent of those people felt that the device improved their confidence in independent mobility and orientation. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 41% | Activity: 47% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Assistive Wearables:** Advancing the technology behind assistive wearables will drive innovation in health and wellness industries. - **Obstacle Detection:** Incorporating obstacle detection in wearables could revolutionize industries such as transportation and construction. - **Haptic Feedback:** Developing wearables that utilize haptic feedback could provide new opportunities for innovation in the entertainment industry. ### Where This Applies - **Health and Wellness:** Integration of assistive wearables in the health and wellness industry could revolutionize accessibility for those living with disabilities. - **Transportation:** Obstacle detection in wearables could guide innovation in the transportation industry, providing safer and more accessible travel options. - **Construction:** Utilizing wearable obstacle detection technology in the construction industry could increase worker safety and reduce accidents. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Smart Canes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-cane-2.md) - [AI-Powered Mobility Aids](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/navicane.md) - [Robotic Visual Impairment Guides](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/handheld-guidance-device.md) - [Wheeled Robotic Aids](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wheeled-robotic-aid.md) - [LiDAR-Powered Visual Impairment Headsets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lumen-glasses.md) - [Wearable Non-Verbal Assistive Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wearable-assistive-system.md) - [Wearable Assistive Smart Eyewear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lighthouse-tech.md) - [AI-Powered Visual Co-Pilots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biped.md) - [Assistive Navigation Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/navigation-system.md)