Hi-Tech Mobility Aids

Love or hate them, hi-tech mobility devices are here to stay in one form or another. Over the past twenty years, a number of different types of device have been invented, to aid the orientation and mobility of blind and partially sighted people. Some had potential and others were good, whilst some were completely wacky.
The same is still true today! People can choose from a wide variety of devices from all around the world. So, which is the right device and what will a hi-tech mobility aid do for you that an ordinary long cane can not?
This article compares two hi-tech mobility devices currently available, the ultracane and the Vistac cane, assessing their usefulness as mobility aids for today’s visually impaired traveller.
TechnologyThe concept of hi-tech mobility aids is not new. The use of a gadget for mobility purposes and the advantages and disadvantages of such devices for independent travel has caused countless debates amongst orientation and mobility specialists, with no consensus being reached. The original ideas from twenty years ago have not changed very much, in that designers use either sound waves or laser beams (low powered) to identify targets and potential obstacles to a visually impaired person without the necessity of using, or in conjunction with, a conventional long cane. Problems of using such technology were highlighted in a number of early models and prototypes, which were not always good at identifying obstacles and hazards that they were supposed to find.The Ultracane and Vistac cane are very different from each other in principle, technology and the way they are used. The Ultracane, launched in the late 1990s following development work at Leeds University, has two ultrasonic beams, to locate obstacles similar to a sonar device. A sound wave is sent out from a sensor which then rebounds back and is received by the sensor. Sound waves are sent out in ‘cones’ either in a straight line ahead or up and above the Ultracane to detect obstacles. Any obstacles detected by the sound waves will give out a ‘pulse’ vibration in the vibrating buttons on the handle to inform the cane user of the presence of the obstacle. The principle of the ultracane is a combination of traditional cane skills and technology working together.
In comparison, the Vistac cane is a hi-tech long cane from Germany, using a laser beam. The purpose of the laser is to detect objects above the cane only and is not designed to identify any hazards at ground level. Therefore, the cane is used in the conventional tactile way.