I Designed a Smart Shoe for the Blind — How a Rural Student Turned a Problem into a Purpose

The Problem I Saw Every Day

In Malam Jabba — a beautiful yet underdeveloped part of northern Pakistan — I grew up witnessing the quiet struggles of people around me. But one issue never left my mind: blind and visually impaired people navigating rocky, uneven roads with no assistance.

I saw them walking with sticks, bumping into unseen obstacles, or relying entirely on others. Some avoided leaving home. For them, even the simplest task — like crossing the road — could be life-threatening.

One day, I asked myself:

“Why isn’t there a simple, affordable solution to help them walk safely?”

The more I saw the problem, the more it hurt. I couldn’t ignore it. I wasn’t an engineer or a tech expert — just a student from a poor village — but I had a reason to try.

The Spark: Using Tech to Solve Real Problems

Using what little I had — an old phone, a borrowed laptop, and patchy internet — I started learning online. YouTube tutorials, free blogs, and basic electronics videos became my teachers.

That’s when I discovered ultrasonic sensors — small devices that could detect obstacles. I thought:

“What if I could build a shoe that alerts the blind about what's ahead?”

The idea was simple but powerful:

A sensor on the shoe detects obstacles.

If something’s too close, it sends a signal.

That signal becomes a vibration or a sound.

The person feels it — and avoids danger.

It’s like giving them an invisible cane.

Building the First Prototype — From Trash to Tech

I had no lab, no money, and no formal training. But I had passion.

I collected broken electronics, reused circuits, and saved for basic components. I burned boards, made wiring mistakes, and failed repeatedly. But every error taught me more.

I stayed up late soldering circuits, debugging code, and testing different shoe types. Days turned into weeks. Slowly, a working prototype came to life — my first Smart Shoe for the Blind.

It wasn’t perfect — but it worked.

The joy of seeing something functional come out of nothing was beyond words.

This journey not only tested my technical skills but also strengthened my belief that meaningful innovations can come from the most unexpected places — even from someone like me.

Recognition — From My Village to National Stage

I never expected my idea to go beyond the village. But life had other plans.

My Smart Shoe was featured in national and international media, including Arab News.

I presented it at the Prime Minister’s National Innovation Award 2023.

I pitched it at NUST Islamabad’s Idea Pitching Competition, one of the largest in Pakistan.

I attended a 5-day national innovation event, surrounded by young changemakers like me.

And then something truly special happened:

A blind man in my own community tested the shoe.

He walked a few steps, stopped, and smiled.

“I can feel the road,” he said.

That moment meant more than any award. It was the proof I needed that my idea mattered.

What I’ve Learned

Innovation doesn’t need perfect tools — it needs purpose.

Solutions don’t always come from labs — they come from empathy.

Today, I’m still a student. Still learning. But I now dream of building better, smarter assistive devices — and helping others innovate in places where resources are few but ideas are powerful.

If given the right support, I believe more students from rural and low-income areas can become real-world problem solvers. I’m proof of that.

Join Me — Let’s Build for Good

If this story moved you, please share it.

Support innovation that solves real problems.

And if you’re a dreamer like me — starting with nothing — just remember:

You don’t need a big start.

You just need a big reason.

Featured in International Media

To learn more about my innovation and journey, you can read the full article published by Arab News here:

https://arab.news/z3uq9