Worldwide, over 300 million individuals are blind or visually impaired, and the vast majority do not have access to technologies that enable safe and independent mobility. Conventional solutions—such as white canes or guide dogs—present serious limitations: canes are single-point detection tools that do not identify overhead or dynamic obstacles, while guide dogs require significant investment in training and care, making them inaccessible for many.
The 7Sense project was born from a vision to revolutionize assistive mobility through the creation of a wearable sensory substitution system that allows blind users to "feel" their surroundings using a novel remote haptic interface. At the heart of this innovation is a patented headband system that combines 3D environmental sensing, thermal imaging, and AI with a proprietary haptic tactile display—translating environmental information into real-time tactile signals on the user’s forehead. This allows the user to perceive objects, motion, and spatial layouts, not with sight or sound, but through touch—creating what the project calls a "superhuman remote sense of touch."
The strategic objective of the project was to mature this breakthrough from TRL6 to TRL8, ready for medical certification, mass production, and market entry. This entailed not only completing product development and clinical validation but also navigating complex regulatory frameworks, securing CE and ISO certifications, and building a robust go-to-market infrastructure across several European countries.
Politically and strategically, the 7Sense project aligns with key European Union priorities: it supports social inclusion, fosters innovation in digital health and assistive technologies, and promotes the rights and independence of persons with disabilities. As the EU prepares for a demographic shift toward an aging population and places growing emphasis on accessibility and equity, the potential for 7Sense to fill a critical gap in the assistive technology landscape is both timely and significant.
Expected impacts: On a societal level, 7Sense empowers individuals with visual impairments to regain independence, confidence, and mobility, enhancing their quality of life and social participation. Economically, it opens up new markets in assistive tech while lowering long-term healthcare and social support costs. Scientifically, it contributes to cutting-edge research in haptics, neuroplasticity, and sensory substitution. The success of the 7Sense project also demonstrates how targeted EU innovation funding through the EIC Accelerator can drive transformative, inclusive technologies from concept to market.
7Sense is not just a device—it's a leap forward in human-machine interaction, inclusion, and dignity.
