Wearable Haptic Glove for the Hearing Impaired: Enhancing Spatial Awareness with Flex Sensors for Better Environmental Perception

Abstract

The proposed project is a wearable haptic glove designed to provide spatial awareness for hearing-impaired individuals. This innovative solution leverages flex sensors integrated into the glove to detect finger movements and hand gestures, which are processed to deliver realtime haptic feedback. The haptic feedback, in the form of vibrations or pressure cues, enables the user to perceive environmental stimuli and spatial orientation, compensating for the auditory cues they may lack.

The flex sensors embedded in the glove monitor the degree of finger bending, which is then converted into electrical signals.[1] These signals are processed by a microcontroller to trigger haptic responses based on predefined spatial patterns or obstacles detected in the user’s surroundings. The glove can help individuals navigate through different environments, providing feedback on object proximity or directional changes, making it particularly useful in assisting with spatial awareness in both indoor and outdoor settings.

This project aims to enhance the quality of life for hearing-impaired individuals  by  offering  a  noninvasive,  user-friendly  wearable technology that improves their spatial interaction and mobility, reducing dependence on visual or other external cues.