If You Spot These Shoes, You’re Witnessing a Life-Changing Innovation
They may look like regular sneakers—but they’re anything but ordinary.
In Austria, a quiet revolution is unfolding, one step at a time. A new kind of smart footwear is giving people who are blind or visually impaired a safer, more independent way to navigate the world.
Meet InnoMake, the intelligent shoe that sees for you.
Developed by Austrian startup Tec-Innovation in partnership with researchers at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), InnoMake is wearable tech with a mission. Though priced around $3,000, the impact it delivers—freedom, autonomy, and daily safety—makes it far more valuable to those who need it most.
So, how does it work?
Each shoe is fitted with waterproof ultrasonic sensors embedded near the toe. These sensors scan up to 13 feet (4 meters) ahead, detecting obstacles like curbs, walls, parked cars, or stairs. When something is in the way, the wearer receives alerts via vibrations and sounds—essentially, a built-in early warning system, like having parking sensors for your feet.
For Markus Raffer, a visually impaired co-founder of Tec-Innovation, InnoMake has been a game-changer.
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