Visually impaired individuals face significant challenges in everyday mobility, which often leads to a reliance on others and a limited ability to navigate independently.

Mobility difficulties can lead to accidents and injuries, posing a risk to health and wellbeing. This can include falls, collisions, and other mishaps due to undetected obstacles.

These challenges limit quality of life, restricting participation in many aspects of society, including work, education, and social activities.

Growth in the Assistive Tech market for the Visually impaired : $14B by 2031

Visually impaired population worldwide: 701M by 2050

We are looking at a "hidden industry," highly growing and increasing exponentially in population and market value per year even though there's a limited selection of products.

98% of users hit themselves once or more per week

36% of injuries require medical attention

1.5 hrs of mobility assistance per day

Source: Ara_Research_Impact_on_Mobility_and_Safety, available in the supplementary materials.

Strap Tech's Ara device revolutionizes mobility for the visually impaired by integrating lidar and ultrasonic sensors with AI for intuitive navigation. The technology operates in three steps:

Step 1: Data Capture - Sensing the World

Ara employs an array of sensors, including upward-facing ultrasonic sensors for overhead navigation and side-mounted ultrasonics and forward-facing lidar and ultrasonics for comprehensive coverage. Dual lidar sensors angled downwards, along with an additional ultrasonic sensor, detect low-level obstacles.

Step 2: Data Analysis - Making Sense of It All

Captured data undergoes instant processing by Ara's advanced AI, identifying potential obstacles and filtering out irrelevant objects.

Step 3: Communication - Translating Insights

Ara communicates environmental information through a simple haptic language, utilizing tactile actuators embedded in haptic foam on the device's rear and within the straps. This nuanced feedback system alerts users to obstacles without auditory cues.

Ara focuses on enhancing the safety and independence of the visually impaired as a wearable device designed to navigate obstacles. Recognizing the importance of sound as a sensory input for the blind, our solution eschews audio signals, opting for haptic feedback instead. The intention is to deliver an unobtrusive, user-friendly navigation aid that respects users' existing sensory dependencies and preferences.

The design concept acknowledges the diverse ways in which users utilize mobility aids, ensuring that Ara functions independently or alongside other aids, seamlessly integrating into users' lifestyles without requiring adaptation.

Moreover, Ara embodies innovation through its scalability. It operates without continuous connectivity yet can receive updates to enhance its capabilities, representing a harmonious fusion of self-sufficiency and technological advancement. This strategic approach positions Ara as a versatile and future-proof companion for the visually impaired community.

Ara's Key Dates

March 2023 to Now – Official Launch and Product Fulfillment

March 2023 to Now – Branding, PR & Digital Communications Impementation

February 2023 - Scalable Manufacturing

August 2022 – First Patent Granted

June 2022 - Product Validation Test

May 2022 – Pre-Launch

December 2021 – Engineering Validation Test

June 2021 - Engineering Prototype

April 2021 - Alpha Prototype

November 2020 - Proof of concept

Ara by Strap Tech aims to revolutionize the lives of the visually impaired, offering seamless autonomy in mobility. Positioned to redefine assistive technology, Ara aligns with a rapidly growing industry projected to reach $14 billion by 2031, coinciding with the expected rise in visually impaired individuals to 701 million by 2050.

Ara's adaptability is showcased through its update capabilities, enhancing user navigation across 19 countries. Significant reductions in collision risk by 80% and a decrease in injury rates from 36% to 6% have been observed. Users have experienced an 11% increase in walking distance and a 19% boost in speed, illustrating profound user benefits. These key performance indicators demonstrate Ara's impact and are detailed in a study available in the supplementary materials. With $3.7M usd received in investment fueling its evolution, Ara embodies the sector's innovation, propelling us towards ensuring visual impairment is no barrier to independent living.