Can a visually impaired skier stand alone

GLIMPSE is a redesigned safety helmet that gives visually impaired skiers relative position awareness through multi-sensory feedback — combining sound and haptic signals to tell the athlete both where to go and where others around them are. Sound guides the skier through the path ahead; haptic feedback communicates the relative position of other athletes on the slope in real time. The system does not rely on satellite connectivity, ensuring reliable performance in areas where GPS signal is compromised.

The hardware integrates infrared human detection, ultrasonic distance sensing, and Bluetooth beacons, processed and delivered through speaker and vibration modules built into the helmet body. Prototyping was done through iterative 3D-printed forms with embedded electronics, tested against real use conditions.

Beyond individual independence, GLIMPSE opens a larger possibility: multiple visually impaired athletes competing simultaneously on the same track — without guides — creating a new category of Paralympic sport.

Developed as part of a Rio Tinto–sponsored sports innovation programme, and exhibited at Imperial College London.