Austrian computer scientists have created the ground-breaking InnoMake sneaker to help blind people navigate obstacles on foot. The over $3,000 shoes were made in partnership with Graz University of Technology and an Austrian business called Tec-Innovation.

On the toe of every InnoMake shoe is a waterproof ultrasonic sensor that can identify obstacles up to 13 feet away. When an object approaches, the wearer is alerted by sounds and vibrations. The technique is similar to automotive parking sensors.

The effectiveness of it was emphasized by Tec-Innovation’s vision challenged co-founder, Markus Raffer, who said, “This works very well and is already a great help to me personally.”

Every foot has its own sensor, which can be purchased as a whole shoe or as a retrofit option. These sensors can even distinguish between different types of objects, such as cars, stairs, and walls, and can send out personalized notifications.

In order to improve navigation even further, Tec-Innovation intends to improve the design of InnoMake by adding machine learning and camera-based recognition. A “street view navigation map” might be available in later versions to help other users.

“They use camera images from the foot perspective to determine an area that is free of obstacles and thus safe to walk on, and they can recognize and distinguish objects,” said Friedrich Fraundorfer of TU Graz.

With the ability to help visually impaired people navigate their environment more safely and independently, InnoMake has the potential to significantly improve their quality of life.