| Sumario: | Purpose: Smart canes play a critical role in enhancing the mobility, safety, and independence of visually impaired individuals. However, there is a need for a comprehensive, structured evaluation framework to guide their selection, development, and continuous improvement. This study aims to propose an integrated assessment framework that strategically evaluates smart cane technologies using a combination of SWOT analysis, game theory, and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. Materials and Methods: The study employs a multi-stage methodological approach. First, key criteria and sub-criteria for smart cane evaluation are identified and weighted using the Intuitionistic Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (IFAHP). These criteria are then used to classify strategic factors within a customized SWOT matrix for smart canes. The Intuitionistic Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (IFTOPSIS) is applied to prioritize and rank the identified factors and smart cane models. Additionally, the TOWS matrix is constructed to generate strategic initiatives, while the fuzzy Shapley value method is utilized to rank the development strategies and smart cane alternatives based on their aggregated contributions. Results and Conclusions: The findings reveal that safety, battery life, and obstacle detection are the most critical criteria for smart cane users. Among the evaluated options, the WeWALK Smart Cane emerged as the top-performing model, closely aligned with the ideal solution. The study offers strategic recommendations focused on enhancing safety features and integrating advanced connectivity to further support the development of smart cane technology. These results contribute valuable insights to the field of disability and rehabilitation by providing a systematic decision-making framework that can assist professionals in selecting and improving assistive mobility devices for visually impaired individuals. Implications for rehabilitation: The proposed framework provides stakeholders with a comprehensive method to assess and prioritise smart cane models, ensuring that individuals with visual impairments can access appropriate assistive technology for enhanced mobility and safety. The findings underscore the significance of safety, battery durability and obstacle detection in the strategic advancement of smart canes. They furnish developers with explicit guidance on aligning product innovation with the fundamental requirements of users. The framework demonstrates that smart canes, equipped with advanced rehabilitation capabilities, serve as comprehensive aids enabling users to restore independence and confidence through enhanced connectivity and sophisticated obstacle detection. The methodology illustrates the effectiveness of integrating MCDM, game theory and SWOT analysis in assessing assistive technology, hence aiding its application to future rehabilitation methods and technologies.
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