Smart Assistance for Visually Impaired People - A Review

Assistive technologies have developed rapidly for the blind and visually impaired, yet still face challenges in offering seamless navigation and mobility. In this paper, we review the latest technologies on navigation assistance systems in their integration with deep learning, sensor technologies, and mobile applications. Some of the current solutions such as YOLObased models for real-time obstacle detection using ultrasonic sensors and AI localization provide spatial awareness and promote independence. Nevertheless, these innovations suffer from various limitations regarding their adaptability to several environments and seamless integration. Therefore, the survey presented in this article highlights critical gaps and possible future works in the gears of multifunctional, user-centric systems that are efficient, compact, and scalably deployable. The results justify the new emerging technologies' capability to transform assistive systems and, hence, contribute to catering to the need for inclusivity for visually impaired users.