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Created in Spring – Summer 2021
Software uses: Rhino, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Keyshot, Procreate
Original but better
What is Signal?
Signal is a smart cane that helps visual impair people. I’ll be exploring how a smart cane that can retain it original form but more safe, noticeable and reliable for the blind and the visually impaired people. Hope Signal can encourage more user to use it.
Do you know?
An estimate of 285 million people who are visually impair, 39 million are blind globally, people who are 50 years and older are 82% blind.
Who is my target market?
Blind or Visually Impair people
People experiences with a white cane
What kind of probelms you encounter when using a white cane?
When I hear a car coming I get off the road and onto the grass, giving the driver a wide berth. Electric cars are nearly silent as they approach and there is no reason to believe they will be any more cautious than drivers of other cars about not running me over. I am thinking of something like a vibration in the handle of my cane.
Some problems I had encountered before like silent electric cars, objects like trees or signs that my white cane cannot find. Construction sites are a problem as they can be dangerous. I live in a place with hardly any sidewalks. Gps is coming a long way to tell which bus stops to choose.
Modifications to a normal white mobility cane would be difficult, because many persons have many different needs. However, I know a universal problem with all canes: What to do with the cane when you are not walking around? Canes either fold or telescope to a shorter length, but then what to do with the handle? I have lost canes because I had to set them down somewhere.
Problem Identifications
Unnoticeable at night
A white cane is a stick without any features to counter night use, which are extremely dangerous to the users and increases the chances of an accidents.
Awkward hide cane in public
Most of the times after the use of the white cane, it is require to fold it and hold it the entire time till the need of it again. Only holding it can make sure the cane is right by your side.
Unable to detect certain obstacles
Visual Impair person navigating his/her surrounding are challenging. Obstacles could be somewhere the cane couldn’t detect it.
%
Uses a guide dog
%
Uses a long cane
Normal Cane $20
Wewalk Smart Cane $599.00
Inspirations
How it work?
Bought a standard cane, did some test runs to try to get closer to the blind experiences.
Relax your hand and put it in front of you
Left foot forward then swipe cane to the right
Right foot forward then swipe cane to the left
Continue to swipe left & right as you are moving
How it work?
Bought a standard cane, did some test runs to try to get closer to the blind experiences.
Test subject: My brother
Need to detect taller obstacles
Nowhere to store cane in public places
Dirty end contacts the handle
How it work?
Bought a standard cane, did some test runs to try to get closer to the blind experiences.
Too tall, thick diameter, but nice angle for obstacle detecter.
Both mock ups feels great, after calculating all internal parts 1.6 diameter is the one to go.
Final Design
What do Signal do?
LED
Signal have two LED, one at the front and one at the back. As long as Signal is on, when the user is moving, the light of Signal will turn green then when the user stop, Signal will turn red.
Fall Detection
Signal is equip with a three axis accelerometer. When the users fall the cane will send messages to your emergency contact and continue to blink in red till the user pick it back up.
Exchangable Tips
The users will have an options of switching Signal tips for different terrain. Ball Tips and the point tips. While walking point tip Signal will tap left and right, while the ball tip will glide left to right. Ball tip is suggested to be use in a more nature environment while the point tip is suggest to use on smooth plain ground.
Sensor
Signal is equip with ultra sonic sensor, able to detect obstacles that is up to 157 inches ahead. When it detects an obstacles Signal will vibrate to alert user. The closer the obstacles, stronger vibrations.
Packaging
Signal packaging should be direct, easy to read and understand also eco-friendly packaging.
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