Introducing the Revolutionary Smart Cane WeWALK

The purpose of a cane is to provide feedback about obstacles within the user's immediate path of travel, and I think that your goal of providing information about objects that would not normally be detectable by a cane is very interesting because although there are already devices on the market that can perform this task, providing this functionality through just one device could be potentially liberating for some people who may not use a secondary device. Exactly how the user would receive the information is another question, but I'm sure you can figure that out.

Now to my question: why the technology integration? As I've stated, you are filling a gap in the market by providing additional information to the user about objects in their immediate path of travel, so why do you need to do more than that? If a user wants to get directions through Google Maps or to use a ridesharing service, they will still need to have a smartphone. Is there a compelling reason why they would want to use your product rather than the smartphone's touchscreen to perform these tasks? If your response is that smartphone touchscreens can be difficult for some blind people to use, I respond that there are already inexpensive secondary devices on the market that can replicate a VoiceOver user's experience of using a touchscreen by using a physical keypad to control the device. If you respond that the user does not need to move their hands away from the cane itself to perform the task, I would say that people will become easily distracted--it's no better than sighted people looking at the screens of their phones whilst they are walking. I don't think Alexa can assist with mobility at the moment, and if I am correct that it doesn't, implementing a feature that may not exist at the time of the cane's release sounds rather risky to me.

With all of these bells and whistles, I think you also need to think about how heavy the cane will be, and how easy it will be to grip.

I know some people will really want this product, but don't expect thousands of people with vision impairment to be pre-ordering this product.

While it seems a good idea to integrate different technologies into the cane, there's one question and one warning i want to issue: How practical will this cane be? I mean if there are laser sensors to detect obstacles and possibly other thingimabobs in there, they might add to the canes heavyness thus making it impractical to use. I for one wouldn't want to go around with a hitech gizmo filled with all kinds of technology but so heavy i can barely move it.
And now the warning: While having lots of technology and online services and whatnot in the same place, be aware that not many of those services are available outside what i call "the countries that count", meaning the USA, England, Germany, France, Italy, China and possibly even Korea and Japan. For example, Not all google services are available in Scandinavia. The google assistant is an example of this and Amazon in its entirety is not available here and probably never will be so if you plan on releasing the cane in Scandinavia you should be aware that many of the features you want to place inside it won't be accessible to us or they will be very, very limited.

Hello,After reading through the listing on your website, I am just curious about one thing. It says that we can donate old canes. If we do this, does that mean we will receive one of these new canes as a replacement? Sorry for the confusion. Best,Keenan

Hello,
just to say I am very interested in the project.
I invite the developer to correct me if necessary, but I'd like to answer to person who asked "why technology / smartphone integration"
Well, as far as I understood, this cane has a sort of touchpad, which is implemented in order to control smartphone with free hands - or, better, controlling smartphone from the cane instead of occupying the second hand, or the only hand if person is partially impaired on hands mobility (my boyfriend is in that condition for example and he uses a normal white cane)
I appreciate the idea, even if I'd also add a mini-speaker, in order to have also free ears, so that it's possible to cross streets safely.
I am from italy and alexa is not (yet) available here, so, I'd propose you to check for google assistant too, but as far as I saw on indiegogo the money goal is still too low and there's not any guarantee of project going on, so, it's not time to ask for questions right now

How much will this cost to a person in the United States?

A general comment, though mainly directed at #1: personally, the smart phone integration is one of the things I thinks the most promising and appealing about this product. It sort of falls into the same category of Apple Watch in terms of convenience that, strictly speaking, isn't necessary. There isn't anything stopping me from pulling my phone out and swiping around to do check something out on whatever navigation app I'm using while I walk... But honestly if I could use VO gestures on the grip of my cane and navigate my phone while it's still in my pocket, why wouldn't I want to do this? I honestly think this is the first time I've really been bummed that I don't have $350 to contribute to a crowdfunding campaign because I'd gladly do it if I could, if nothing more than to support this kind of innovation and get the chance to find out how well it is (or isn't) integrated.

Does it need to be recharge to be able to use the came? How do you recharge it? Do will have a special plan to make monthly payments to get the came? The price is to high for most of the blind people who are getting benefits specially in the USA.

I wish WeWALK just concentrated on superb obstacle management rather than trying to do too many things. I appreciate that someone is trying to improve a WWII artifact. :)
Thank you WeWALK.

Hi. I like this idea!!

I have a question about cane tips. Forgive me if it makes no sense.

Will you be able to use cane tips that you can buy from places like V Tech? And can we use our own preferred tip? For example, I love the fiberglass tips. I guess an argument that might make senie for this is, if there was a censor in the tip.

Also, will it have an option for a folding cane? I love folding canes because they are less cumbersome to store. I don't have to stand it up. If Im in a car, or classroom, or where ever, I could just fold my cane, put it somewhere, and wa la, storage isn't an issue. Not saying regular canes are hard to store, but they are a bit harder than folding canes. Personally, I will never go back to a regular cane if I can help it. Although it does create some moments of panic for my family, because they'll ask where it's at and I'd tell them, it was under my arm or beneath a chair or they'd look and see it.

Hello, currently I am a bit out of budget so I cannot give a contribution for getting the perk i am interested in (pre-ordering wewalk), - hope it will be available indemand when the campaign expires.
then, I have another question:
are you integrating vibs in the cane? such as a vibration when obstacle detected, or when answering calls, or so.
I'd also suggest a physical button to invoke voice assistants, if not already present.

this is an interesting idea, I assume its not possible to borrow demonstration units to see how they work in the UK? its a lot of money to spend without having scene or tested the product.
personally I rarely use a smartphone when I am out and about because its just two distracting trying to listen to the phone and use the cane at once. I would like to know though do you have to hold the cane in a strange unnatural way to detect the obstacles? the reason I ask is that I tried the sonar cane a few years back, I think it was called the bat cane but I am not sure. anyway this was about 10 years ago maybe longer, and at the time I had to hold the cane in a very strange way to make sure my fingers were covering the vibrating sensors it really didn't feel natural and I got tired quickly when using the cane.
another question one problem that no cane has solved is a way to detect steps or big drops at ground level so its very much dependent on the users cane skills to locate things, are you working on technologies that might assist with this?

I did try a pair of vibrating glasses that the rnib certainly used to sell a few years back at a technology show but I actually found there vibrations on my head distracted me from important information around me plus they kept bouncing up and down on my head so I never considered getting them.
is the distance at which objects can be detected adjustable or fixed? I think the bat cane could certainly be adjusted to narrow or increase the detection distance.

To those commenting that this is too expensive for people receiving SSI and a payment option is required...while I can't comment on anyone's specific financial situation, if you're able to make a monthly payment, you should also be able to set that amount aside every month to save up for something. The only difference a monthly payment makes is the ability to get the product right away, rather than having to wait a while as you save.

I am not part of any blindness specific organization so I guess I will have to wait for the cane to go on sale to be able to try it, as I really don't feel like spending a lot of money on a product without getting to try it first.
the cane is under development I gather, so when do you hope to release it so that it is on sale from third parties and can be scene at events such as sight village etc.
I believe the old bat cane had a dedicated switch for adjusting distance at which objects can be detected, I don't think control of this through the app is ideal, as the environment can change very quickly when you are out, so a user might need to quickly adjust the distance setting and might not be able to easily stop to fiddle with a smartphone app.

I think that it's a good idea. Where I live people have lo hanging trees or bushes that jut out over the sidewalk. With my guide dog he's good at noticing these things as he should with the training. However, on the days where I feel like taking a cane. I'm usually bumping into the bushes or the trees and it's either duck, hit the telephone pole, or rub up against the bushes and trees and with my allergies I just duck.
I'd wonder how well something like this would work in conjunction with a guide dog. While not the most practical. I've had times where I've used a cane and a guide dog at the same time.
How well would the cane handle rainy weather? Another thing about where I live. Kentucky can be nice one day and then raining the next.
While the ability to connect with Uber, and or Lift is a nice idea. That almost sounds a little over the top like the smart refrigerators with the tablets on the door. It's cool, but I can't see it being used nearly as much. the Google maps idea while nice. I'd wonder how that would be aded and working.
I would personally be interested in seeing something more focused with serious obstacles such as partially opened doors, or the stairwells that don't have anything above or below and the next thing you know your running into the underside of a stairway. While something like this may already exist. I would have more interest towards things like that. I've heard of some laser canes having issues in crowded areas.
Last, some also say that the price is too steep. It is coming from someone who is pretty hard on a white cane when using one. So that's another one of my questions. How well can it hold up against it hitting various obstacles. after all this is what a cane ends up doing?
chuck

Hello,

Is there any news about this project? Is there a place where I can pre-order it? Are there already reviews of the cane?

Regards

is there a user guide in pdf format?