"Worldwide, there are about 250 million people with visual impairments, 50 million of whom use a traditional white cane to help them get around. This is an amazing tool, don't get me wrong, but it hasn't really changed in nearly 100 years. Everything else has changed dramatically with technology, so we asked ourselves: why not the white cane?"
This is Jean Marc Feghali, Head of R&D at London-based start-up WeWALK. WeWALK is a company dedicated to bringing modern technology to the traditional long white cane, one of the most essential and prevalent tools used by people with visual impairments. "The long white cane is essential for many people with visual impairments, myself included, but we saw an opportunity to enhance it with technology. By adding voice control, Bluetooth, a touchpad, ultrasonic sensors, vibration, AI, and more, we've built a smart cane that can improve the safety of users and help them overcome key barriers to mobility, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and accessible world."
The WeWALK smart cane
The WeWALK team, some of whom have visual impairments themselves, eat, sleep, and breathe assistive and adaptive technology. The team deeply understands the challenges facing people with visual impairments such as detecting low-hanging objects and holding a cane in one hand and bouncing between apps on a phone with the other. This experience can be exhausting, frustrating, and dangerous for users.
The WeWALK story began when co-founder Kürşat Ceylan was traveling across New York City. Ceylan, who’s been blind since birth, was speaking at the United Nations' Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and, while making his way from the airport to his hotel with his suitcase, smartphone, and traditional white cane in hand, collided with a pole, causing him injury.
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