SafeStep: Tech for Social Good

I built SafeStep because I wanted to see if I could use my skills to actually help people. It’s a wearable project designed for visually impaired individuals, helping them navigate the world more safely. This project eventually won national recognition, but for me, the real win was seeing it actually work in a real-world setting.

The Problem

Navigating busy streets is incredibly difficult for someone who is visually impaired. Most existing solutions are either too expensive or too complicated. I wanted to build something that uses standard hardware and a simple web interface to provide real-time location tracking and alerts.

What it does:

• Real-Time GPS: I integrated a GPS module into the wearable and built a dashboard that maps the user's location in real-time.
• Emergency Alerts: If the user gets lost or needs help, they can trigger an alert that sends their exact location to their family.
• Google Maps Integration: I used the Google Maps API to provide accurate routing and location data.

How it was built

This was another hybrid project involving both hardware and software.

The Wearable

I used an ESP32 as the brain of the wearable. It gathers GPS data and sends it to my web app over a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. I focused on making the device as small and light as possible.

The Dashboard

• Live Tracking: I built a dashboard where family members can see where the user is at all times.
• Notifications: I used OneSignal to send push notifications to phones as soon as an emergency is triggered.
• Historical Data: You can see where the user has been throughout the day, which helps in understanding their routines and patterns.

The Tech

The dashboard is built with Next.js and Tailwind CSS. I used Supabase to store the location data and OneSignal for the notifications. The wearable side is all Arduino C++ on an ESP32.

Status

SafeStep was my project for a national competition where it won a top award. It stands as proof that technology, when used right, can have a massive social impact.

Links

Project Page: https://safestep.thenicedev.xyz

Tech Stack

• Next.js
• ESP32 (Arduino C++)
• Google Maps API
• OneSignal
• Tailwind CSS
• Supabase

Want to build something that matters? hello@thenicedev.xyz