GUIDANCE FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

"Safe Independent Mobility"

CURRENT SITUATION

87.8% of blind people have collided or nearly collided with pedestrians, bicycles, and other obstacles

Current white cane poses a safety hazard due to the detection range

A study published in the National Center on Disability and Journalism notes that crowded sidewalks present more city barriers for people with vision and mobility problems

WHITE CANE

Limitations

Limited detection range (head level, fast-moving objects)
Inconvenience to other pedestrians (crowded setting)
Does not detect other humans
Stick length slows movement speed as object detection is limited

Main Idea:

A cane or device that will help visually impaired people navigate through urban environments (populated/crowded spaces) with ease and efficiency

Faster walking speed
Familiar to current cane users
Longer handle for weight distribution
Accessible in congested areas
Detects blind detection spots (overhead)

FEATURES

A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS

Through 15 weeks, this collaborative project was created by developing analog physical and hardware iterations. each process was worked on by both partners allowing for the development of each process to influence another. The result was a device that communicated to the user where and where not to step. This was done by Sensors and motors providing haptic feedback as to where objects were located.