# Vibrating Visually-Impaired Footwear The Lechal Initiative Helps the Blind Feel their Direction By Meghan Young | Published 2014-07-28 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/visuallyimpaired-footwear References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2014/07/indian-footwear-lechal-visually-impaired.html) & [lechal](http://lechal.com/lechalinitiative.html) Navigating a big world, not to mention smaller busy cities, can be a chore even for those with their eyesight intact; the visually-impaired footwear hopes to help the blind get around more easily and accurately. This visually-impaired footwear vibrates to signal what direction to go in. This is achieved through Bluetooth-enabled technology. A great alternative to voice directions, which can complicate one of their most crucial senses, this visually-impaired footwear is part of the Lechal Intiative. Based in Andhra Pradesh, India, Lechal was founded by Krispian Lawrence and Anirudh Sharma, graduates of [MIT](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yzipper) and the [University of Michigan](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onebuttonpin)-Ann Arbor. Psfk reports, "Users can tag destinations by tapping their feet, share their route with friends, set fitness milestones and track their daily activity." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 69% | Activity: 90% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Visually-impaired Footwear:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced haptic feedback technology for visually-impaired individuals to navigate their surroundings more easily and accurately. - **Bluetooth-enabled Technology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create new applications and devices that utilize Bluetooth technology to enhance accessibility for visually-impaired individuals. - **Fitness Tracking for Visually-impaired:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design specialized fitness tracking features specifically tailored for visually-impaired individuals to help them achieve their fitness milestones. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Assistive Technology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new assistive technologies that enable visually-impaired individuals to navigate the world more independently. - **Wearable Technology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design innovative wearable devices that incorporate haptic feedback technology for enhancing accessibility and navigation. - **Fitness and Wellness:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create inclusive fitness and wellness solutions that cater specifically to the needs of visually-impaired individuals. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Haptic Navigation Wristbands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/haptic-navigation-wristband.md) - [Visual Impairment Support Headsets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vision-bone-conduction-headset.md) - [Assistive Navigation Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/navigation-system.md) - [AI-Powered Visual Co-Pilots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biped.md) - [Wheeled Robotic Aids](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wheeled-robotic-aid.md) - [Robotic Visual Impairment Guides](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/handheld-guidance-device.md) - [Neck-Worn Navigational Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loovic.md) - [Wearable Assistive Smart Eyewear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lighthouse-tech.md) - [AI-Powered Smart Canes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-cane-2.md)