The tool that will change the lives of the visually impaired – using only a smartphone

Harvard researchers have developed the Mobilio app, which provides continuous navigation guidance for the blind using smartphone sensors and artificial intelligence. In trials, users completed outdoor routes 13% faster than Google Maps and reduced collisions by 41%.

Researchers at Harvard University have developed the Mobilio app, which provides continuous navigation guidance for the blind and visually impaired using smartphone sensors and an artificial intelligence model. The system scans sidewalks, detects obstacles in real time, and guides users with customized audio beeps. In clinical trials with 14 blind volunteers, app users completed outdoor routes 13% faster than Google Maps and reduced indoor obstacle collisions by 41%. The main advantage is that the app runs on a regular smartphone without the need for expensive accessories. The researchers are working to expand the trials and bring the app to official stores.