A smart cane for the visually challenged

INNOVATIVE Youngsters

While the traditional white cane is considered a boon for the visually challenged, it can only help a person detect obstacles on the ground and within a range of just a metre. Blind people often bump into over­hanging branches, protruding ACs, signboards and parked vehicles thereby getting upper torso or facial injuries.

Rohan Paul of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, sensitive to the probems facing the blind, thought about it and devised a ‘Smart Cane’ to help the visually challenged negotiate their way around better.

Paul, who is IIT's Assistech co-founder, a lab which works on developing affordable assistive technology solutions for the visually impaired says, “This innovation is a small detachable unit that fits the top portion of the white cane that blind people generally use. It produces an ultrasonic beam that gets reflected by the obstacles in their path. Distance is conveyed to the user using intuitive vibratory patterns that change as the user approaches any obstacle.”

The Smart Cane device fits on the top fold of the white cane and uses ultrasound-based ranging to detect raised obstacles (from knee till head height) upto three metre from the user. The distance information is conveyed to the user through varying vibration patterns. It does not replace the white cane, but complements its use.

“It also detects a fast approaching obstacle within the detection range, allowing a reflex action by the user. Ultimately, the cane allows safe, independent mobility with confidence and dignity for a visually challenged person,” says Paul, whose innovation was showcased in the season two of DuPont ‘The Power of Shunya: Challenge for Zero’.

In order to serve a potentially large demand for this device, IIT Delhi is partnering with Saksham Trust, a well-known welfare organisation dedicated to providing aids and appliances to persons with blindness. They  have already started a national programe for trainers and rehabilitation officers who can then train people in their local organisations.

Speaking about his innovation to Metrolife, Paul said “The device is now also available as part of the Government of India’s Assistance to Disabled Persons in Purchase of Aids and Appliances (ADIP)scheme, to provide devices to the disabled population with limited means. Under this scheme an initial lot of 1000 units are being disseminated to the persons who need them the most.”

More than 300 people affected by blindness were involved in the development of this cane for over eight years. Currently it is priced at Rs 3,000.