Posted by Susan Herson
on December 17, 2024
People of all ages need to use a cane — whether they have difficulty walking around unassisted or if they have problems with visual impairments. Many of them can use a regular cane without needing anything else added to it. But there are other situations where it might be better to get a cane with certain technology added to it.
There are smart canes out there, like the WeWalk Smart Cane, that you or a relative can use to improve the overall quality of life, whether it’s in the home or out on the streets. But even a cane like this might not be sufficient straight out of the box. Here are several ways that you can hack it to make it an even better tool for you or your loved one.
Enhance Obstacle Detection With Multiple Sensors
While people have gotten around well using a white cane, there are times when it can be insufficient when it comes to detecting an obstacle. You’ll know there’s an obstacle in front of you when the cane hits it, but you might not know how high or wide it is. That can wind up presenting a safety risk for you, especially if you’re alone.
Your smart cane might have sensors on it, but if you add more then you can have a better idea of what you’re dealing with and make any adjustments there without needing to have someone come help you navigate your way around. These sensors might not be user friendly at first, especially for older people, but the learning curve is usually not very steep at all.
Improve Detection Range
When you’re walking with your regular cane, think of it like a very limited type of radar. You usually won’t know something is coming up until you get within a couple of feet of it when your cane hits it. This can be very jarring at times, especially if you’re walking in an unfamiliar area.
While you might have sensors on your smart cane, you need to find out what the range is. See if you can get strong ones that have a larger range. That way, you can have it let you know much earlier in advance than if you were to use a standard cane.
This can also include fall detection. You might stumble and fall a distance away from your cane. It could detect where you’ve landed, which can be a big help for any rescuers.
Get Directional Feedback
A cane is very important when it comes to accessibility for a blind or visually impaired person. This is also true if you’re limited in how you can walk. There are also times when it gets so dark at night you might as well be blind — which is where the cane comes in.
You can use an embedded microphone or built in phone for voice commands or alert levels. If you’ve walked a path before, the smart cane might remember and tell you when you’re approaching a certain curb, for example. This is an example of directional feedback.
Help Family Members or Other Loved Ones Locate You
Technology has become so advanced that there are ways that you can have your cane connected to a smartphone, whether it’s your own or a family member’s. That way, if something happens, you or your family member can track it down. This is especially good if you don’t show up for a meeting at a certain time.
When you’re researching the cane, you can ask about any ai features it might have. There are a lot of ways to automate certain things on the cane so that it recognizes certain patterns. It might even know what route you take, especially if it has a built in GPS.
You can ask about connecting it to other devices besides phones. That way, if there’s an emergency, you can use something else to page help. Your health and safety is too important when it comes to things like this.
When you’re applying these hacks, think more about functionality over form. You’re going to be using the cane to walk around — and while it’s nice to show a bit of personality, you don’t want any aesthetic to make life harder for you. Consider the quality of these things over how cool it makes you look.
By using these hacks, you’ll have much better peace of mind. This will be true whether you’re out and about on a walk or just relaxing at home. You won’t be worrying about bumping into objects or tripping over them — you’ll be able to avoid them and feel truly independent while being able to go to any event, making it worth it.