Smart homecare technologies for the visually impaired: recent advances

Accessibility and autonomy are fundamental needs for people with visual impairments wishing to enjoy their rights as citizens and to access buildings, premises, and other facilities. Dealing with the possibility of autonomously performing activities of daily living, two main aspects are mandatory: autonomous mobility and living independently. In particular, dealing with autonomous accessibility is strictly related to the possibility to perceive the environment and to gain a realistic and intuitive awareness of ongoing events and hazards. In order to promote living independently, caregivers (whether relatives or assistive services) need to be aware of the user's physical surroundings. The literature is rich in attempts to provide technical solutions to improve quality of life and autonomy for frail people, particularly with regard to the visually impaired. This review summarizes “state of the art” electronic aids for the visually impaired, and aims to to highlight the benefits and drawbacks of these aids.