A Turkish man who loves travel innovated a smart cane that issues warnings, directions and offers recommendations for nearby stores.
Turkey – WeWalk CEO and co-founder Kursat Ceylan has changed the face of navigation for the blind community across the globe. The innovator created a smart can that uses several techniques to guide a blind person through busy cities.
The smart cane has the ability to detect low-hanging objects and warn the user. It does this through ultrasonic sensors and alerts the user by vibrating the handle.
Kursat is visually impaired himself and hoped that applying modern technology to the smart cane, would create many solutions to problems experienced by the blind.
The cane is paired with a smartphone and accesses the Google Maps software to help navigate, point out nearby stores and alert to any obstructions.
“WeWALK detects obstacles above chest level with ultrasonic sensor and warns with vibration.”
Its battery life lasts around 5 hours, and it works in English and Turkish for now, according to the website, more languages will be added as the concept picks up across the globe.
Kursat unveiled his innovative cane in New York to the American market where consumers would be more willing to pay the $500 price tag that goes with the first models.
Hopefully, as smart canes become more popular, they will develop models that are affordable and accessible for everyone. In the meantime, if you want to help the visually impaired, there is an app that connects visually impaired to sighted people, and together you do things, answer questions, and so much more. You can read all about it here.
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