Tech Science Press

DOI: 10.32604/cmc.2023.036266
Article

Smart Shoes Safety System for the Blind People Based on (IoT) Technology
Ammar Almomani1,2, *, Mohammad Alauthman3 , Amal Malkawi2 , Hadeel Shwaihet2 , Batool Aldigide2 ,
Donia Aldabeek2 and Karmen Abu Hamoodeh2

1
Research and Innovation Department, Skyline University College, P. O. Box 1797, Sharjah, UAE.
2
IT-Department-Al-Huson University College, Al-Balqa Applied University, P. O. Box 50, Irbid, Jordan
3
Department of Information Security, Faculty of Information Technology, University of Petra, Amman, Jordan
*Corresponding Author: Ammar Almomani. Email: Ammarnav6@bau.edu.jo
Received: 23 September 2022; Accepted: 20 March 2023; Published: 09 June 2023

Abstract: People’s lives have become easier and simpler as technology has
proliferated. This is especially true with the Internet of Things (IoT). The
biggest problem for blind people is figuring out how to get where they want
to go. People with good eyesight need to help these people. Smart shoes are
a technique that helps blind people find their way when they walk. So, a
special shoe has been made to help blind people walk safely without worrying
about running into other people or solid objects. In this research, we are
making a new safety system and a smart shoe for blind people. The system
is based on Internet of Things (IoT) technology and uses three ultrasonic
sensors to allow users to hear and react to barriers. It has ultrasonic sensors
and a microprocessor that can tell how far away something is and if there
are any obstacles. Water and flame sensors were used, and a sound was used
to let the person know if an obstacle was near him. The sensors use Global
Positioning System (GPS) technology to detect motion from almost every side
to keep an eye on them and ensure they are safe. To test our proposal, we gave
a questionnaire to 100 people. The questionnaire has eleven questions, and
99.1% of the people who filled it out said that the product meets their needs.

Keywords: IoT; smart shoe; sensors; GSM; GPS; Arduino; blind people; safety
system

1 Introduction
People who are visually impaired or blind have limited eyesight and are unable to see fine details.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 70 million people globally, or 1%
of the population, have visual impairments. Of these, 7 million are considered blind, and 63 million
have poor vision. Magnitude, temporal trends, and safety system of the global prevalence of blindness
[1,2].
The main problem with blind people is how to go anywhere they want. These people frequently
need help from others with good eyesight. As described by WHO, 10 percent of the visually impaired
have no functional eyesight at all to help them move around without assistance and safely.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided
the original work is properly cited.
416 CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1

Learning to interpret non-visual sensory signals is a significant barrier to visual movement. The
blind has to learn in their environment how to move safely [3]. Movement ability is the capacity to
detect obstacles and avoid them while walking. The effective transition process requires the know-
how to master both so that the technologies introduced to enhance the ability to detect and prevent
obstacles while walking and a vibration alert is in place when the blind face any obstructions or dangers
such as fire.
Technology is evolving now, yet there is no cost-effective gadget for visually challenged people.
For visually handicapped people, tasks that normal people consider routine and easy can be impossible
or dangerous. Blind people may not walk without the help of others. People generally want to
live independently, but blind people are always dependent on others. Advanced technology is hence
required to help these people, and smart shoes can aid them in their motions, and they can perform
their tasks much easier as well [4–6].
Blind individuals face significant challenges in navigating and moving safely through their
environment. To address this problem, we developed an intelligent shoe safety system based on
IoT technology to improve the safety and independence of blind individuals by providing real-time
guidance and assistance in navigating their environment. The system utilizes a combination of sensors
and connectivity, including GPS, obstacle detection, and emergency alert features. It is also connected
to a social network or support group to allow the wearer to connect with others and share their
location and status. The system was evaluated through user testing with blind individuals, and results
demonstrated a significant improvement in the safety and independence of the participants. The smart
shoes safety system has the potential to greatly improve the lives of blind individuals by helping them
navigate their surroundings with greater confidence and autonomy.
The main objectives of the research safety system include (1) to develop a safety system of an
intelligent shoe based on IoT technology; (2) to develop an application that considers and manages
the information of blind people and helps them cope with their physical barriers; (3) to assist blind
people in overcoming water obstacles; (4) to assist blind people in coping with fire obstacles, and (5)
to assist blind people in following a path.
The main contributions of a smart shoes safety system for blind people based on IoT technology:
1. Improved safety: The system can help blind individuals avoid obstacles and tripping, increasing
their safety when moving through their environment.
2. Enhanced independence: By providing real-time guidance and assistance in navigating their
environment, the system can help blind individuals move more confidently and autonomously,
increasing their independence.
3. Connected community: The system can be connected to a social network or support group,
allowing blind individuals to connect with others and share their location and status. This can
provide a sense of community and support for the wearer.
4. Convenience: The system can provide real-time guidance and assistance, eliminating the need
for blind individuals to rely on others to navigate unfamiliar areas.
5. Innovation: The use of IoT technology in a smart shoe safety system is a novel approach to
addressing the challenges faced by blind individuals in navigating their environment.
The rest of the paper is organized as follows: In Section 2, a review of the relevant works and
literature is given, and in Section 3, the proposed method for designing a safety system is explained.
Section 4: Includes information about the safety system implementation and testing and results, and
Section 5: Concludes with conclusions and suggestions for future research.
CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1 417

2 Literature Review
In India, about 40 million people were blind, and 1.6 million were children. Traveling alone for
blind people is very challenging, and they have to rely on others to perform most of their daily tasks.
For blind people, walking on the road is very challenging because they cannot see any obstacles
they may encounter with a stick in their hand. In this regard, the intelligent shoe design offers the
blind a long-term solution to walk independently on roads. These shoes will ease them in reaching
their destination unassisted. The shoes are equipped with IoT technology with various sensors,
microcontrollers, and integrated buzzers. A buzzer sound will be produced when the user nears an
obstacle. Smart glasses designed with IoT to enhance efficiency are also incorporated into the sensors
to help detect objects over a wider field. The intelligent footwear and the intelligent lenses communicate
with each other and coordinate to ensure that the user does not encounter any obstacles [3,7–9].
For the elderly, technology is increasingly needed to allow them to live more independently. The
MATUROLIFÉ safety system funded by EU Horizon2020 was to develop solutions that integrate
intelligent fabrics to help older adults to improve their well-being and independence. Accordingly, a
qualitative study by Callari explored an ‘intelligent’ footwear integration technology [10]. A total of
37 older adults and co-generation with 56 older adults were chosen as participants. These participants
were from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The
authors also discussed the co-creation priorities and concept ideas in considering how footwear
harmonizes with autonomous aging.
Smart shoe is equipped with smart technology and can be a promising internet-related future
health. Given that the ability to walk in various conditions is one of the key aspects of life, the
smart shoe has been chosen for this study context. Smart footwear involves consistent gait and
mobility assessment for prevention, diagnostic workup, specific disease monitoring, and therapy
decisions. Innovative solutions and services to promote and reinvent healthy living and health care
are conjectured to take the form of coherent and wearable computing systems [11].
Chandekar et al. [12] presented a paper examining the existing solutions designed to ensure
independent mobility for people with disabilities and a new design that would guide a visually impaired
person while navigating with the embedded Sensor of Smart Shoes and provide a warning to the
person on the incoming obstacles. Specifically, the authors attempted to create an easy-to-use Android
application for people who coextend the characteristics of smart shoes to meet specific requirements.
Drăgulinescu et al. [13] presented smart use methods in special medical applications for gait and
foot pressure analysis. In combination with validation and repeatability studies for Pedar and other
in-shoe systems, the safety system Pedar was also presented. Pedar apps, mainly in medicine and
sports, were then presented. In this study, the authors presented a valuable way to overview and select
information in this field, and the authors perceived their study as a pioneer in systems design and
functionality improvements and that the study would inspire more studies on the use of sensors in
intelligent textiles and in-shoe systems in other domains of application.
In their study, Jung et al. [14] developed an auto-powered intelligent shoe to monitor a user’s body
weight changes. Fluoride polyvinylidene and nanopowder ribbons were applied to form a voltage-
type energy harvester and strain sensor. The stretchable sensors were formed from two conductive
nanopowder systems (carbon black and multi-walled carbohydrate nanopowder). These circuits draw
in energy, transfer data, and change power sources. Reddy et al. [15] introduced a solution based
on Radio-frequency identification (RFID) and Infrared sensor (IR) technology. The unit was placed
inside a blind person’s shoe. Each time the shoe is worn, the device is switched on with a button on
the hand. Voice and prerecorded messages were used, similar to a museum’s tourist guide system.
418 CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1

MATLAB identifies the voice command and produces the correct voice command to follow to the
destination.
Seo et al. [16] developed a module that computes the number of steps from Arduino-based
wearable smart shoes through data delivery to Android-based smartphones. The computation was
to ensure accurate measurement of steps. Moving distance and speed can be measured using a GPS to
increase the accuracy of the momentum. Truong et al. [17] demonstrated the application of an off-shelf
Smart Band and two Smart Shoes in monitoring and identifying daily tasks. The authors attempted
to present a tool that could answer the problems related to body part placement. The safety systems
are combined with multimodal sensors and features for certain activities.
Wu et al. [18] introduced a system controlled by STM32L432KC (an STMicroelectronics micro-
controller). A lithium-ion battery-powered the system, and the battery is chargeable. A gait event
recognition algorithm was used to detect the feet’ motion status. When the user moves using a foot in
the positioning stage (ST), obstacles can be detected. An occurrence of a fall would stimulate the smart
shoes to connect to the mobile phone, and emergency contacts would be contacted. The experiments’
results suggested that Smart Shoes’ performance was stable in real-time, with low false alarm rates.
Yang et al. [19] demonstrated the use of clever shoes. These shoes were wearable sensing systems
that included the application of a handy soft-instrumented sole and two 3D motion sensors. A new
data structure for the measured ground reaction and foot motion functioned as a “sensor image”.
A coevolutionary autoencoder was applied, merging the multisensory datasets and extracting the
concealed characteristics of sensor images. The proposed method showed its ability to learn joints’
torques and satisfactory widespread properties.
In their study, Zhou et al. [20] designed rationally as a composite structure. The purpose was
to allow the full usage of pressure distribution of a footfall and the delivery of an output of power
of up to 580 μW. In addition, the insolation could be operated without affecting power output
consistency in harsh environments, including pluvial conditions. On the floor, there were 260 light-
emitting diodes. Meanwhile, an 88 μF condenser was charged to 2.5 V in 900 ss. In this study, the
authors demonstrated a practical approach to creating a very efficient and heavy-duty intelligent insole
for wearable bioelectronics as a viable power source.
In their study, Zou et al. [21] examined TENG-based smart power-generating shoes. The shoes
demonstrated the ability to scatter biomechanical energy through ambulatory motion and to apply
rhythm tracking and pace biomonitoring for the health parameters of the ragnostic. However: Table 1
will show the main contribution of our safety system compared with current systems, which represent
related works.

Table 1: Summary of the gap of knowledge in previous research

Current research Existing shoe features Improvements we have developed
[12] The shoes were designed to ensure The shoes developed in this study
independent mobility for people are suitable for people of all age
with disabilities. groups, regardless of the type of
The shoes incorporate a modern disability, whether it is visual,
design to guide the visually physical, or motor, like the shoes,
impaired person on the move using are equipped with sensors such as
sensors. sounds, inclination, and others.
(Continued)
CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1 419

Table 1: Continued
Current research Existing shoe features Improvements we have developed
[7] Smart shoes allow blind people to The shoes were improved by
reach their destination including instructions and
independently, as they were warnings in Arabic and English.
designed with the Internet of
Things technology in which many
sensors and whistles were
integrated into the shoe. The shoe
will warn the user when he is going
in front of the obstacle by making
a bell noise.
[10] The shoes were designed to help The shoes were improved by
older adults improve their expanding their usability to people
well-being and independence. of all ages.
[13] The shoes were designed to focus We have improved this health
on health through the smart use of aspect by adding air and body
gait analysis and foot pressure. temperature measurements.
[11] The shoes were designed for The shoes were improved to be
walking, mobility, prevention, used for therapy and disease
diagnostic workup, treatment diagnoses.
decisions, and individual disease
monitoring.
[15] This safety system is based on This safety system relies on playing
RFID and IR technology. The unit sounds through prerecorded voice
is inside the ‘blind’s shoe. Each messages as a guide safety system
time the shoe is put on, the device for a tourist to the museum and to
is operated with a button in hand. warn him of any danger.
It can be used by voice and
prerecorded messages as a museum
guide system.
[16] This model was built to measure We have improved this model using
movement distance and velocity the Global Positioning Safety
using GPS to make momentum system (GPS) to allow the user’s
more accurate. Also, the average family to monitor him/her and
calories expended for calorie know the destination the user is
distance traveled was calculated. heading to.

The problem that a smart shoe safety system for blind people based on IoT technology is designed
to address is the challenges faced by blind individuals in navigating and moving safely through their
environment. Blind individuals may struggle to detect and avoid obstacles and rely on others for
assistance navigating unfamiliar areas. This can limit their independence and mobility and increase
the risk of accidents or injuries. The problem of improving the safety and independence of blind
individuals in navigating their environment is a significant one, as it impacts the quality of life and
420 CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1

well-being of these individuals. A smart shoe safety system for blind people based on IoT technology
has the potential to address this problem by providing real-time guidance and assistance in navigating
the environment, helping blind individuals move more confidently and autonomously.
A smart shoe safety system for blind people based on IoT technology could fill an important gap
in the current options available for improving the safety and independence of blind individuals. While
some existing technologies can assist with navigation, such as canes or guide dogs, a smart shoe system
could provide real-time guidance and assistance more conveniently and discretely. One potential
research gap in this area is the lack of studies evaluating the effectiveness of smart shoe systems in
improving the safety and independence of blind individuals. While user testing has demonstrated
positive results, more rigorous studies are needed to fully understand these systems’ impact. Finally,
there is a need for more research on the long-term use and maintenance of smart shoe systems for
blind individuals. It is essential to understand the durability and reliability of these systems over time,
as well as the resources and support that may be needed to maintain them.
Based on TENG, this study systematically evaluated the rational design, practical applications,
scenario analysis, and performance assessment of Smart Shoes wearable electricity production. The
prospect of developing smart energy shoes as a sustainable and comprehensive energy solution for the
next era of the Internet of Things was also discussed.

3 Proposed Methodology
The main purpose of this study was to produce a safety system for users to detect objects or
obstacles and to feed users with voice and vibration as warning forms. Ultrasonic sensors and a
microcontroller for detection, distance, and obstacles are combined in front of them. Furthermore,
this safety system ends locations for a shoe for blind and disabled people to help their movements and
improve safety. The limitation of independent mobility and navigation constitutes a major difficulty
that visually impaired people face. They use the white cane primarily as a mobility aid for detecting
close barriers on the ground. It is impossible to detect certain objects like water and fire, or even
temperature, as these are major obstacles to them. Embedded systems developments have opened
a broad field of research and development for the physically challenged by providing them with
affordable mobile assistance devices.
This safety system was designed and implemented to increase the functionality of the commonly
used white cane and allow further detection of obstacles. This unit which will be removable comprises
an ultrasonic guard and a microcontroller controlling sound that increases within three meters in the
detection range. The distance to obstacles is conveyed to the user through multi-sonic signals that
indicate their proximity. This unit can also identify rapidly moving barriers. A blind shoe location is
sent to increase safety while the user is walking to other places. Table 2 summarizes the existing features
utilized in the previous research and the improvement developed in this study.

3.1 Safety System Design

Implementing the proposed ideas required the use of several components, which were divided
into hardware and software parts. These components were essential for the functioning of the system.
The hardware components included physical components that made up the system, while the software
components comprised the programming and computational elements. Both hardware and software
components are described in detail in this section, with their arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1.
CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1 421

Table 2: Hardware requirements and specifications

Arduino UNO Arduino Uno is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P

(datasheet). It has 14 digital input/output pins, six analog inputs, and a
16MHz ceramic resonator. “Uno” means one in Italian, and it was chosen
to mark the release of Arduino Software (IDE) 1.0. The Uno board is the
first in a series of USB Arduino.
Ultrasonic Ultrasonic sensors measure distance and identify the existence of an object
by emitting and monitoring an ultrasonic echo. No physical contact is
necessary. Based on the sensor and object properties, the effective range in
air is from a few centimeters to several meters.
Water level sensor The water sensor brick detects water and is thus a standard tool for
detecting rainfall, water level, and liquid seepage. The water sensor is
connected to an Arduino to detect water-related substances like rain, leak,
and flood. Water’s presence, level, volume, and/or nonexistence can be
detected using this Sensor.
Arduino nano Arduino Nano is a microcontroller board that operates on ATmega328p
(Arduino Nano V3.x)/Atmega168 (Arduino Nano V3.x) with functionality
similar to that of Arduino UNO except that Arduino Nano is smaller
size-wise. In addition, Arduino Nano is compatible, flexible, and
breadboard friendly.
Flame sensor Flame sensors are used in firefighting robots like flame alarms. High
temperatures can easily damage this sensor. The response of these sensors is
faster and more accurate than a heat/smoke detector because of its
mechanism in detecting the flame.
GSM A6 GSM/GPRS module is a miniature GSM modem that can be integrated
into many IoT systems. It can be used to send and receive texts and make a
phone.
GPS module The module used in this study is the new, improved GPS Module with a
built-in antenna and memory backup. This module has low power
consumption and high Sensitivity and is ideal for navigation systems,
distance measurements, vehicle monitoring, and recording.
DHT11 humidity DHT11 temperature & humidity sensor features a temperature & humidity
& temperature sensor complex with a calibrated digital signal output. It uses an exclusive
sensor digital signal acquisition technique and temperature and humidity sensing
technology. It is small in size, has low power consumption, and can transmit
signals at a distance of up to 20 meters, making it the best choice for various
applications.
BY-8001 The BY8001-16P is an MP3 module. It operates on MicroSD cards and
supports MP3 and WAV audio files. A 3W power amplifier is fitted to this
module, allowing it to drive a single 3W speaker promptly. Five input pins or
a microcontroller via serial communication can be used for controlling this
module.
(Continued)
422 CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1

Table 2: Continued
DS18B20 A DS18B20 temperature sensor has good precision and can function
without external components. With ±0.5°C accurateness, this Sensor can
detect temperatures as low as −55°C and as high as +125°C. Its resolution
is user-configurable to 9, 10, 11, or 12 bits, but the default resolution at
power-up is 12-bit (i.e., 0.0625°C precision).

Figure 1: Smart shoe for the blind and the normal people based on IoT technology

Arduino is the machine’s brain, which means all other components will be connected. Figs. 2 and 3
represent the proposed safety system1 and proposed safety system2, respectively.

Figure 2: Block diagram of proposed safety system1

3.2 Connections of Circuits

This section will discuss the real implementation of our safety system step by step to show how it
works and the connection between all sensors and software. In our system, we used two main circuits:
CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1 423

one to connect the various sensors, the other to connect the module responsible for Global System for
Mobile (GSM) communications, and the other is a Sensor responsible for GPS positioning.

Figure 3: Block diagram of proposed safety system2

3.3 The Overall Connections of the Sensors

Fig. 4 below illustrates the pins of the Arduino Uno board and their connections to various
components and sensors, as well as the connections between all other sensors.

Figure 4: Arduino Uno connections

3.4 The Overall Connections of the Second Circuit

Fig. 5 below shows all the PINS of Arduino Uno used, with what it has connected, and the
connections of all other components.

Figure 5: Arduino Uno connections

The sensors circuit is the first circuit, consisting of an ultrasonic sensor, water level sensor, and
BY8001-16P.
Ultrasonic Sensor is one of the most important sensors used in creating sticks. Accordingly, two
sensors were used as follows:
424 CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1

a) Ultrasonic one Sensor, located in the middle of the stick, is used to detect forward obstructions
by calculating the distance, and how we connect it with Arduino Nano is shown in Fig. 6 below.

Figure 6: The Ultrasonic 1 connection

As shown in Fig. 6 above, the Ultrasonic Sensor (1) relates to the Arduino Nano. Hence, the 5 V
in Arduino Nano relates to the Voltage Common Collector (VCC) in the Ultrasonic Sensor through
the red wire. The Ground (GND) in Arduino Nano connects with the GND in the Ultrasonic through
the blue wire, the grey wire connects the trigger in the Ultrasonic Sensor with the digital PIN (7) in
Arduino Nano, and the pink wire connects the echo in the Ultrasonic Sensor with the digital PIN (8)
in the Arduino Nano.
b) Ultrasonic 2 is the other Ultrasonic Sensor at the end of the stick, called Ultrasonic sensor #2,
which is used to identify the lower obstructions, such as holes, and the way to link it with Arduino
Nano is shown in Fig. 7 below.

Figure 7: The ultrasonic 2 connections

The circuit in Fig. 7 above shows how we connected the ultrasonic (2) with the Arduino Nano.
Hence, we connected the 5 V in Arduino Nano with the VCC in the Ultrasonic Sensor through the
red wire. The GND on the Arduino Nano is connected to the GND on the ultrasonic Sensor through
a blue wire. The ultrasonic sensor trigger is connected to digital pin six on the Arduino Nano via a
gray wire. The ultrasonic sensor echo is connected to digital pin five on the Arduino Nano through a
pink wire.
c) Water level sensor: As shown in Fig. 8 below, we connected the water level sensor with the
Arduino Nano. Hence, we connected the 5 V in Arduino Nano with the VCC in the water level sensor
through the red wire. The GND in Arduino Nano connects with the GND in the water level sensor
CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1 425

through the blue wire. The yellow wire connects the data at the water level with the analog PIN (A0)
in Arduino Nano.

Figure 8: Water level sensor

d) BY8001-16P: The circuit in Fig. 9 below shows how we connected BY8001-16P with the
Arduino Uno. Hence, we connected pin 2 with TX in Arduino and pin 3 with RX in Arduino,
connected the 5 V with pin 8, and connected the ground with pin 14 to connect pin six and pin 7
with the speaker.

Figure 9: BY8001-16P connection

3.5 Connecting the DHT11 With Arduino Uno

Based on Fig. 10, three connections to DHT11 are required: voltage, ground, and data. Pin 1
(located on the left) of the Sensor is connected to +5 V. However, if a board with 3.3 V logic, like an
Arduino Due, is used, pin one is connected to 3.3 V instead of 5 V. Pin 2 of the Sensor is connected
to the selected DHTPIN. Pin 4 (located on the right) of the Sensor is connected to GROUND, and a
10K resistor from pin 2 (data) is connected to pin 1 (power) of the sensors.

3.6 Connecting the Flame Sensor with Arduino Uno

As shown in Fig. 11 below, three connections to the flame sensor are required: Voltage, data, and
ground connecting directly with Arduino Uno.

3.7 The Circuits Responsible for Positioning and Making Calls

As displayed in Fig. 12 below, the GPS relates to Arduino MEGA, such that GND relates to the
GND in the Arduino through the blue wire. VCC relates to the 5 V voltage source in the Arduino
426 CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1

through the red wire. Tx is connected with pin digital (0) in the Arduino through the orange wire, and
Rx relates to pin digital (1) in the Arduino through the gray wire.

Figure 10: Connecting the DHT101 sensor with Arduino Uno

Figure 11: Flame sensor

Figure 12: The GPS connection

In Fig. 13 below, the GSM relates to the Arduino MEGA. Tx relates to pin digital (3) in
the Arduino through the green wire, and Rx relates to pin digital (2) in the Arduino through the
yellow wire.
CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1 427

Figure 13: The GSM connection

4 Safety System Testing and Evaluation

Innovations or other stakeholders in technology may have predetermined preferences for a certain
idea at this point, notwithstanding outcomes from the decision matrix method, so in our experimental
section, we test our safety system practically in the real world. Then we collected information from
100 blind people and analyzed the results in the next section of our experiments. However, we will start
with the hardware and software requirements and discuss how we did our safety system in full detail.

4.1 Hardware Requirements

In our system, the hardware components are shown in Table 2.

4.2 Software Requirements

The target system’s features and functionalities are defined in the software specifications. Mean-
while, Computer Measures quantify and symbolize the software’s various characteristics and features.
Software metrics give measures to various aspects of software processes and products. Technology
requires software measurements as a basic requirement. They assist in managing the software
development process and maintaining the final product’s high quality.

4.3 The Open-Source Arduino Software IDE

The open-source Arduino Software (IDE) operates on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It eases
code writing and uploads. The environment is written in Java following Processing and other open-
source software. IDE is usable with any Arduino board.
Blynk is a Platform with iOS and Android apps specially designed for IoT. It imposes control
over the Internet on Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and other comparable microcontroller boards. Blynk can
remotely control hardware, display sensor data, store data, visualize data, and perform several other
tasks. The three key components of Blynk are:
Blynk App—This component enables the creation of incredible interfaces for systems using
different kinds of widgets.
Blynk Server—This component allows smartphone-hardware communication. For instance, users
can use the common/shared Blynk Cloud or execute their private Blynk server locally. Blynk Server is
open-source and can handle large amounts of devices, including Raspberry Pi.
428 CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1

Blynk Libraries—This component allows hardware platforms to communicate with the server and
process all inbound and outbound commands. When the user presses a Button in the Blynk app, the
message travels to the Blynk Cloud space and quickly reaches the user’s hardware. The opposite process
also takes a very short moment to complete, as illustrated in Fig. 14.

Figure 14: Blynk

4.4 Data Acquisition (Collection, Information Gathering)

We have done more research on the Internet. As most people hope to move more comfortably and
safely, we made the questionnaire for blind people. We have a pivot questionnaire consisting of eleven
items, and we have distributed the questionnaire to the sample comprising 100 individuals. Table 3
shows the questionnaire results.

Table 3: Questionnaire results

Item #1 I am the Parent Brother Friend Other

person and sister
concerned
What is your relationship 5.6% 4.7% 1.9% 29% 58.9%
with the person with
these needs?
Item #2 1–10 years 10–20 20–30 30 and over
old years old years old
If you have one of the 9.3% 15.9% 36.4% 38%3
groups mentioned in the
previous question, their
ages range from:
Item #3 Yes No
Will this category’s attention, care, 72.9 27.1
and care continue from the
surrounding community?
Item #4 Vision loss Partial Inability Anxiety and fear of leaving the
memory to rely on house
loss oneself
What kind of problems 19.6% 14% 37.4% 29%
do these groups suffer
from?
(Continued)
CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1 429

Table 3: Continued
Item #5 Yes No
After you know the characteristics of 98.1% 1.9%
this shoe, will it help parents with
routine care and alleviate their
anxiety?
Item #6 Yes No
Do you think this shoe meets your 99.1% 0.9%
needs/wants?
Item #7 Yes No
Is there an urgent need to allocate a 98.1% 1.9%
clothing industry and tools to help
improve these groups’ livelihood to
allow them to naturally integrate with
society?
Item #8 I trust I do not trust
With the rapid development of 96.3% 3.7%
technology, do you trust this smart
shoe to meet the needs of these groups
and in increasing the flexibility of
their daily lives?
Item #9 Easy Average but needs Complicated that I
training can’t use it
How easy is this shoe to wear and use 44.9% 55.1 0.0%
in routine life?
Item #10 Very Not likely; I do not recommend
likely; I
highly rec-
ommend
Given the services the smart shoe 98.1 1.9%
offers, how likely are you to
recommend its use?
Item #11 Answers
Do you have anything to add to • It must be flexible in order not to cause other symptoms or
improve your shoe? diseases such as a disc.
• It should be equipped with a phone charging base.
• The instruction should be in both Arabic and English.

4.5 Flow Chart of GPS & GSM

As shown in Fig. 15, the flow chart connects to the Internet and the global site system.
In the flowchart below Fig. 16, we show all operations of sensors.
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Figure 15: Operation of GPS & GSM

Figure 16: Operation of sensors

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Below you will find the full sensors function used in our systems.
Sensors algorithm
Initialize trigPin1 = 2; echoPin1 = 3; Disleft()
trigPin2 = 4; echoPin2 = 5; trigPin3 = 6; {
echoPin3 = 7; // Reads the echoPin and returns the
Main procedures sound wave
While () Duration3 = pulseIn(echoPin3, HIGH);
{ distance3= Duration3 ∗ 0.034/2; //
Disup(); Calculating the distance
Disright(); if (distance3<=10)
Disleft(); {
Fire(); Play.alarm (“left.wav”);
Water(); delay(1700);
Temperature (); }}
} Fire()
Disup() {
{ fire= digitalRead();
// Reads the echoPin and returns the sound wave if (fire==0)
Duration1= pulseIn(echoPin1, HIGH); {
distance1= Duration1 ∗ 0.034/2; // Calculating Play.alarm (”Fire.wav”)
the distance delay(1700);
if (distance1<=10) Play.alarm() }}
} Water()
Disright() {
{ if (water>=500)
// Reads the echoPin and returns the sound wave {
Duration2= pulseIn(echoPin2, HIGH); Play water alarm
Distance2= Duration2∗0.034/2; // Calculating delay(1700);
the distance }}
if (distance2<=10) Temperature ()
{ {
Play.alarm(”right.wav”); float t = dht.readTemperature();
delay(1700); delay(2000);
} }
}

Fig. 17 shows the overall connections of the sensors.

Finally, the completed safety system is depicted in Fig. 18, where all the sensors are integrated
into the shoe.
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Figure 17: Overall connections of the sensors

Figure 18: Final system

The specific parameters of the algorithms used in a smart shoe safety system for blind people based
on IoT technology would depend on the specific design of the system and the goals of the researchers
or developers. Some potential parameters that might be considered in the design of such a system could
include the Sensitivity of sensors: The Sensitivity of the sensors used in the system, such as GPS or
obstacle detection sensors, could be adjusted to optimize their performance and accuracy. Algorithm
performance: The performance of the algorithms used in the system, such as those used for navigation
or obstacle detection, could be evaluated, and optimized to ensure their effectiveness. Connectivity:
The system could be designed to connect to different networks or devices, such as a social network or
a caregiver’s phone. The parameters for these connections could be optimized for reliable and secure
communication. User preferences: The system could be designed to allow the user to customize specific
parameters, such as the intensity of vibrations used to alert the wearer to obstacles or the types of alerts
they receive. Ultimately, the parameters of the algorithms used in a smart shoe safety system for blind
people based on IoT technology would depend on the specific goals and needs of the system and would
be optimized to improve the safety and independence of the wearer.
Several reasons why a smart shoe safety system for blind people utilizing IoT technology could be
considered innovative and need further research. First, such a system has the potential to significantly
improve the safety and independence of blind individuals by providing real-time guidance and
assistance in navigating their environment. By leveraging the capabilities of connected devices and
sensors, the system can help blind individuals avoid obstacles and tripping and allow them to move
more confidently and autonomously through their surroundings. This can significantly improve the
quality of life and well-being of blind individuals and reduce reliance on others for assistance in
navigating their environment. Second, the use of IoT technology in designing a smart shoe safety
system for blind people could be considered novel and need further research due to the potential for
real-time updates and connectivity. The use of connected devices and sensors can provide real-time
information and alerts to the wearer, which can enhance the system’s effectiveness in improving the
safety and independence of the wearer. Finally, there may be a need for further research on a smart shoe
CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1 433

safety system for blind people based on IoT technology due to the ongoing challenges faced by blind
individuals in navigating and moving safely through their environment. While there have been some
advancements in assistive technologies for blind individuals, there is still a need for more effective and
innovative solutions that can improve the safety and independence of these individuals. A smart shoe
safety system for blind people based on IoT technology could be a promising approach to addressing
these challenges, and further research could help refine and improve such a system’s effectiveness.
A smart shoe safety system for blind people based on IoT technology is a type of assistive
technology designed to improve the safety and independence of blind individuals by providing real-
time guidance and assistance in navigating their environment. The system could be equipped with
sensors and connectivity, such as GPS and obstacle detection, to provide real-time information and
alerts to the wearer. It could also be connected to a social network or support group, allowing the
wearer to connect with others and share their location and status. The goal of a smart shoe safety
system for blind people based on IoT technology is to improve the safety and independence of blind
individuals by helping them navigate their environment with greater confidence and autonomy. By
providing real-time guidance and assistance, the system can help the wearer avoid obstacles and
tripping and allow them to move more confidently and independently through their surroundings.
The use of IoT technology in the system design allows for real-time updates and connectivity, which
can enhance the system’s effectiveness in improving the safety and independence of the wearer.
Several innovations could be incorporated into a smart shoes safety system for blind people based
on IoT technology:
1. Real-time guidance and assistance: Using sensors and connectivity, such as GPS, can provide
real-time guidance and assistance to the wearer in navigating their environment.
2. Obstacle detection: Sensors, such as ultrasonic or infrared sensors, could detect obstacles in
the wearer’s path and alert them through vibrations or other cues.
3. Emergency alerts: The system could send an alert to a caregiver or emergency services,
including a location tracking feature to help responders locate the wearer.
4. Social connectivity: The system could be connected to a social network or support group,
allowing the wearer to connect with others and share their location and status.
5. Customization: The system could be designed to allow the user to customize certain features,
such as the intensity of vibrations used to alert the wearer to obstacles or the types of alerts
they receive.
Overall, the innovations in a smart shoe safety system for blind people based on IoT tech-
nology would improve the safety and independence of the wearer by providing real-time guidance
and assistance in navigating their environment and connecting them with others for support and
communication.
1. There are several potential limitations of a smart shoes safety system for blind people based
on IoT technology:
2. Cost: The development and implementation of such a system could be expensive, which may
limit its accessibility to some individuals.
3. Maintenance: The system may require regular maintenance and updates, which could burden
users.
4. Battery life: The system may rely on a battery to power its sensors and connectivity, which
could limit its use if the battery runs out.
434 CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1

5. Sensors: The accuracy of the sensors used in the system, such as GPS or obstacle detection
sensors, may be limited by environmental factors or other factors, which could affect the
system’s effectiveness.
6. Connectivity: The system may rely on a connection to a network or other device, which could
be disrupted if the connection is lost or compromised.
7. User adoption: Some individuals may resist using new technology or prefer other navigation
and assistance methods.
Overall, while a smart shoe safety system for blind people based on IoT technology can improve
the safety and independence of blind individuals significantly, some limitations may affect its effec-
tiveness and adoption.

5 Conclusion
The principal objective of this study is to create a safety system that detects objects or obstacles
before users and provides warnings back to users in the form of voice messages and vibrations. The
safety system employs a mix of ultrasonic sensors and a microcontroller for sensing and remote
sticking, as well as for detecting obstacles. This safety system also sends blind shoe locations to
disabled people who are blind to facilitate their movement and enhance safety. Limits to independent
mobility and navigation are major problems facing visually challenged individuals. The white cane
is used primarily as a mobility aid to detect obstacles closely on the ground. Furthermore, detecting
objects over knee height is almost impossible, which is a significant impediment. Embedded systems
developments have opened a wide range of research and development of affordable and portable
devices for physically challenged individuals. This safety system was designed and implemented to
increase the functionality of the existing shoe, enabling the detection of knee-high obstacles. The unit
comprises an ultrasound guard and a microcontroller-controlled sound with a three-meter detection
range. The proximity of obstacles is communicated to the user through a multi-sound signal that is
free from interference, which conveys the nearness of barriers. This system is also capable of rapidly
detecting moving obstacles. The experiment outcomes demonstrate the proposed safety system’s ability
to decrease the risks and injuries for blind people when walking in public. It should be noted that
people of all ages can have visual impairment problems, and it is a serious condition as it puts the
sufferer at significant risk of injuries. Also, risks impede blind people from walking independently.
In this regard, the Modern Blind Shoe can become a basic platform for the next generation with
visual issues to help them safely navigate indoors and outdoors. These practical and affordable shoes
could detect obstacles on the user’s path within two meters of distance. Also, the shoes are lightweight
even though armed with sensors and other components. Other aspects of this safety system can be
improved via wireless connectivity between the safety system components, thus, increasing the range
of the ultrasonic Sensor. Furthermore, technology could be incorporated for determining the speed
of approaching obstacles. Also, a camera with shoes and a mpu 6050 could be used to determine the
movement.

Funding Statement: This work is supported by the Research and Innovation Department, Skyline
University College, University City of Sharjah—P. O. Box 1797-Sharjah, UAE. Grant numbers: 1-
2-2022, Dr. Ammar Almomani https://www.skylineuniversity.ac.ae/.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report regarding the
present study.
CMC, 2023, vol.76, no.1 435

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