Article #5
In India, a new type of cane used for the Independent Mobility of Blind people had been created and causing quite a story among the populace. This cane seems to be helping to guide them through crowded streets that are loaded with many people, animals, vendors, etc. Meenakshi Balakrishnan, a computer engineer, is the head of the “SmartCane” developing team. This device uses ultrasound in order to aid in guiding the visually impaired without incident throughout their life in India. However, there is a flaw to this newfangled cane. This cane cannot detect any signs of warning for objects that are above waist height, does not have a touch point on the ground, and cannot warn against tree branches possibly in your path.
The engineers took the skills of animals that can emit sonar calls against objects with reflecting echoes, such as bats, and used them to develop a cane that stimulated the brain in the same fashion. This cane can also scan a 45 degree span above the knee, which a regular cane given to blind people could not be able to do. Although this SmartCane is quite innovative, there have been quite a few others that had been already in the market since 2011. This previous cane was called the “Ultracane”. It allows users to detect a ‘narrow-beam accurate navigation’ to be able to walk at an average speed with other people. It’s more of a navigator than something that allows you to stop hitting against objects. This Ultracane also gives the user information, like distance. The retail price however, is still quite a hefty lot as it is over $1,000. Very limitedly accessible to those in low-developed countries. Along with this Ultracane, there is also an “Ultrabike” in the works. It, as you imagine, allows blind users to experience, or re-experience, riding a bike and transportation if needed.
The SmartCane team specifically designed this product to be able of usage in many countries where it was averagely affordable. Setting the price at 3,000 Indian Rupees, or $50USD, it is now available to buy. However, it is still a task in order to be able to help all of the visually impaired Indians, who reside in the lowest, remote, and most poor communities. In an attempt to allow everyone around the world to experience this helper, SmartCane leaders are teaming up with several government institutions and NGOs in order to bring up the visually impaired and let them continue their life better.