Andhra Pradesh Student Develops Smart Goggles to Protect Visually Impaired Swimmers

Andhra Pradesh Student designing a wearable device after noticing swimmers with visual impairments often collide with pool walls, prompting a practical solution to improve safety during training sessions at his school’s aquatic center.

Smart Goggles incorporate infrared proximity sensors, a micro‑controller and a low‑power vibration motor that buzzes when the user is within half a meter of the pool edge, providing instant tactile warning without visual cues.

Visually Impaired Swimmers in a trial of ten athletes reported fewer wall collisions and greater confidence, noting that the tactile feedback helped them maintain speed while staying within lane boundaries during practice laps.

Rs 6 Lakh Award from the state’s innovation fund recognized the project after the student’s single safety question sparked development, and the funding will support small‑scale production and distribution of the goggles to schools across the region.