Design of Smart Textile Products for Visually Impaired People Sports Activities

Abstract

The vision loss severely restricts a person's lifestyle and activities. The mobility of the visually impaired is important and can be difficult due to the inability to determine their positions and the location of objects in the environment. For the visually impaired, it can be difficult to observe the surrounding environment to gain knowledge and navigate to find the shortest and easiest path to their final destination. They just have the ability to walk through static routines that are important in their lives, with mobility equipment and the memories stored in their exploration long-term. The electronic device can now merge seamlessly into ordinary clothing. Using various conductive textiles, data and power distribution as well as sensing circuitry can be incorporated directly into clothing. In this work, we will design a "functional textile product" for impaired person that can help him to be located mainly in daily live activities. This paper describes also some of the techniques used to build shirt from commercially available fabrics, yarns, fasteners, and electronic components dedicated to guide visually impaired persons. To solve the problem of navigation for visually impaired people, especially athletes, we will propose some wearable technologies that can help them know their route in the competitions of disabled sports (running). In this survey, after presenting an overview of the wearable technologies, the needs of the visually impaired person will be studied to design textile products that can assist the disable person in their daily live and why not in some sports activities.