Dristi: An AI-Powered Smart Assistive System for the Visually Impaired
This research presents Dristi, a wearable AI-powered assistive bag designed to restore independence for visually impaired individuals. The system integrates real-time object detection using YOLOv5 and MediaPipe for hand-gesture recognition, voice-guided navigation via the Google Maps API, continuous health monitoring (posture analysis & temperature tracking), and an emergency SOS alert system. A wake-word activated conversational AI assistant (“Hello Dristhi”) enables fully hands-free operation. The research evaluates the system’s real-world accuracy, latency, and user accessibility across diverse environments, demonstrating that low-cost edge hardware can deliver enterprise-grade assistive intelligence.
