SeeHaptic: A New Sensory Experience for the Visually Impaired
For approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide with visual impairments, navigating the world presents daily challenges. Parisian startup SeeHaptic has developed a technology that translates visual information into tactile signals, offering a new approach to spatial awareness and mobility. Combining a camera clip, AI-powered image processing, and a vibrating belt, SeeHaptic creates a novel form of spatial perception. The company, formerly known as Artha France, exemplifies how assistive technologies can unlock a market previously reliant on acoustic solutions through innovative sensor approaches.
From Seeing to Feeling: How Sensory Substitution Works
The core principle behind SeeHaptic is sensory substitution – replacing one sensory channel with another. A small camera, attachable to standard eyeglasses, continuously captures the surrounding environment. AI-powered processing analyzes these images in real-time, identifying objects, obstacles, and spatial depth information. This visual data isn’t converted into speech, but rather into a pattern of vibrations and pressure points.
A haptic belt worn around the lower back transmits this information. Varying vibration intensities and positions create a spatial “image” that the wearer perceives through their skin. A nearby obstacle generates stronger vibrations, while distant objects produce weaker signals. The brain learns to interpret these tactile patterns, similar to how it processes visual information. The belt is custom-made using 3D printing, ensuring a precise anatomical fit.
This technology complements traditional aids like white canes or guide dogs, but doesn’t replace them. It expands the perceptual radius and enables faster comprehension of complex environments. While a cane physically detects ground-level obstacles, SeeHaptic provides information about objects at head level or to the side. A mobile app allows for individual adjustments of sensitivity and filtering to avoid cognitive overload.
Why Haptics Offer Advantages Over Audio-Guidance
Audio-based navigation systems have a fundamental drawback: they occupy the auditory sense, which is a primary orientation tool for blind individuals. Traffic sounds, conversations, and environmental information can be obscured by spoken instructions. In noisy environments like train stations or busy streets, crucial acoustic signals can be missed. Haptic navigation operates in parallel with auditory perception, keeping both ears free.
Another advantage lies in the nature of information processing. Audio-guidance delivers sequential, verbal instructions – “three meters straight, then left.” The brain must then translate this information into spatial representations. Haptic signals, however, directly create a spatial pattern. Users report that, after a short adaptation period, they develop a mental image of their surroundings – they “feel” a fountain or a tree before reaching it. This intuitive perception speeds up decision-making and increases mobility.
The AI processing considers more than 30 visual transformations that the human brain uses when processing images, including reducing the field of view during movement and prioritizing relevant objects. The system automatically filters out unimportant information to minimize cognitive load. One user described the technology as a “true revolution for long-term autonomy.”
AI and OCR Expand Capabilities
The camera captures not only objects and obstacles but also text. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) identifies signs, house numbers, bus schedules, and menus. This information is output either haptically or through an integrated voice assistant. While spatial orientation primarily utilizes vibrations, speech is better suited for detailed text information.
The AI models were specifically trained for the needs of blind individuals, accounting for how the brain processes visual information differently than tactile information. The algorithms simulate processes of the visual cortex and translate them into haptic equivalents. This biomimetic design distinguishes SeeHaptic from simpler vibration systems that merely measure distances.
From Artha to SeeHaptic: The Startup’s Evolution
The company initially launched as Artha France and first presented its 3D-printed lower back belt at CES 2025. The rebranding to SeeHaptic reflects a focus on haptic perception as the core technology. The Paris-based startup positions itself at the intersection of haptics, artificial intelligence, and accessibility.
Target audiences include not only blind and visually impaired individuals but also orientation and mobility specialists, rehabilitation professionals, and organizations focused on accessibility. The system is ready to use and doesn’t require extensive training. Users report being able to identify objects like fountains or trees via the haptic signals after a short period.
Business Model and Market Potential
SeeHaptic utilizes 3D printing for belt manufacturing, enabling cost-effective personalization. Each belt is individually adapted to the wearer’s anatomy, enhancing comfort and vibration precision. The scalability of production through additive manufacturing lowers barriers to a global rollout.
The business model combines hardware sales with app-based services. Pre-orders are currently being accepted, with specific pricing details available on the company’s website. The market for assistive technologies is growing, driven by demographic shifts and increasing demands for mobility and participation. While established providers primarily focus on audio solutions, SeeHaptic occupies a niche with scientifically grounded haptic technology.
Technical Implementation in Detail
The camera clip weighs only a few grams and can be attached to any standard eyeglasses. Miniaturizing the components was a technical challenge, as processing power, battery, and camera sensor had to be housed in a compact casing. Image processing occurs both locally, to minimize latency, and in the cloud for more complex AI analysis.
The vibration belt contains multiple actuators that can be controlled independently. The arrangement and number of vibration points are based on studies of tactile perception. The lower back was chosen as the positioning location because this body region has high tactile sensitivity and is relatively unaffected by clothing or movement during daily activities.
The mobile app serves as the control center. Users can adjust vibration intensity, prioritize specific object categories, or adjust the detection range. A learning mode helps new users interpret the haptic signals. The app stores preferences and learns from usage patterns to continuously improve filtering.
Users Report Increased Independence
Testimonials on the website describe concrete improvements in daily life. One user reports perceiving objects like fountains or trees through the vibrations before detecting them with a cane. This extended foresight enables smoother movements and reduces the need to constantly stop and feel around. The speed of movement increases, which is particularly relevant in time-critical situations like reaching public transportation.
The discretion of the system is also valued. While audio-guidance can be disruptive in quiet environments like libraries or meetings, vibrations remain unnoticed by others. This social component contributes to acceptance. Users feel less stigmatized than with visible or audible aids.
Challenges and Limitations of the Technology
Despite the benefits, haptic navigation also has limitations. The technology requires an adaptation period for the brain to learn to translate tactile signals into spatial information. This neuronal plasticity is more pronounced in younger users, which affects the learning curve. Older individuals may require more time and support.
The battery life of the camera and belt limits usage duration. Charging options or spare batteries are required for all-day mobility. Dependence on electronics also carries the risk of technical failures – a scenario not present with mechanical aids like a white cane. SeeHaptic explicitly recommends using the system as a supplement, not a replacement.
Weather conditions can affect camera function. Heavy rain, fog, or direct sunlight can make image capture more difficult. The AI must be able to handle suboptimal visual data, increasing the demands on the algorithms. Cost also presents a hurdle – specialized assistive technology is often more expensive than standard solutions, limiting distribution in countries with lower purchasing power.
