The white cane for the 21st century. While many technology companies are increasingly working to make technology more accessible to the blind and visually impaired, canes have not benefited much from these developments.
London-born WeWalk takes a more traditional approach to the white cane. Aside from the bulkier handle, there isn’t much that visually distinguishes the company’s product from a standard folding walking stick.
The company currently offers two models: the $850 Smartcane 2 and the $1,150 Smartcane+ 2. The main distinction between the tiers is the inclusion of a voice-controlled assistant — a seemingly invaluable tool for a visually impaired person on the go. In addition to detecting obstacles at ground level, the system is able to detect potential obstacles from above.
The system connects wirelessly to an iPhone/Android smartphone, allowing users to receive walking instructions directly from the cane via a built-in speaker. The buttons on the handle can also be used to interface directly with the phone, bringing a tactile experience missing from smartphones.
Parked next to the CES show floor, based in Washington slide is a much newer entrant on the scene. The startup describes its product, Glide, as an “autonomous, self-guided mobility aid” or, simply put, a robot. Instead of the more standard form factor, the Glide features a handle attached to a castor base.
The $1,500 system ($1,799 with an annual subscription) is currently in soft launch mode, following an initial pre-order. The system features a pair of stereo depth cameras and takes a more sophisticated technical approach. In addition to avoiding obstacles, it will alert the user when approaching a door, elevator, stairs or sidewalk, and temporarily lock when it reaches an intersection to avoid oncoming traffic.
The company says a shipping product is about a year out. Glidance raised a $1.5 million pre-seed and is currently in the process of closing a $5 million seed round.
