Hai Harish: In the last three to four years, I have come across at least half a dozen of such devices with minor changes but haven't had a chance to use them. This is because most engineering students find it easier to get both their course credits and more plaudits by working on an Icane project. And for media this is fantastic news and we don't mind putting up a small piece on the device. So lists such as our own have been glutted with information while no one actually used any of them. Top of it all there is also no serious commercial or marketing interest for companies to take up these products and mass produce. It is a pity that while we have more dog food manufacturers in this country, we are yet to have a commercial cane maker who can mass produce some of these devices which in reality may have the kind of features we look for. Of course, people dismiss such an idea by blaming lack of commercial viability, but I am sure NGOs in this country will be ready to buy them once they understand that electronic and intelligent canes add significant value to the user. Having said this, I must tell you that we are still talking about serious design flaws in most of these canes. For one thing, they are not exactly sure how to pack a cane with more features without increasing its weight. Also, they don't often choose the right kind of material for the cane. Most of them prefer things like plastic or PVC pipes which can be broken easily when a bicycle runs over them. So, unless someone chooses the best designs amongst these lab experiments, add improvements and mass produce them, we are not likely to find them in the market.
Subramani -----Original Message----- From: accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in [mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of harish Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 6:50 AM To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Subject: Re: [AI] IITIANS Design better Stick for the Blind Hi Would someone on the list take it up and check the claims and report back. A cane without any add ons cost more than Rs. 50 these days. Unfortunately these wonder devices seldom get out of the Labs. Harish. ----- Original Message ----- From: "mukesh jain" <mukesh.jai...@gmail.com> To: "accessindia" <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 9:33 PM Subject: [AI] IITIANS Design better Stick for the Blind There is good news for blind from the innovative labs of Indian Institute of Technology [IIT] Kanput. A walking stick has been designed to enable the handicapped walk with a lot more confidence. Crossing roads, climbing stairs and moving about in general will be much easier with this stick in their hand. The most encouraging aspect of the indigenous creation is going to be its cost, a meager Rs 50 or so. While, an imported one anywhere costs between Rs 1500 to 2000. The stick is battery-run and made of metal. It is equipped with an electronic device, witch indicates obstructions, if any, in the user's path. Three B-tech students [electrical and electronic department]Amit Kumar, Rajesh Jaiswal and Saurabh Ranjan, who have designed the Stick, said the electronic device gave a warning signal from a distance of about 30 cm and the range could be increased further as per requirements. Dr. Amit Ray, the project guide, said the Stick gave out a beep to indicate an object stone or a vehicle and helped the blind manoeuvre his way. Explaining the mechanism,Dr. Ray said, "Our students have designed a circuit witch has a sensor that sends a warning beep in case something comes in the way". Dr. Ray also said that the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India [ALIMCO] authorities had asked IIT technologists to design this kind of walking stick for the blind about two years ago. But they could not come out with this earlier as as the technocrats were exploring other possible applications of the stick, for example, its use in darkness and to measure the depth of potholes.IIT had earlier designed toys for spastic children. Times of India, Mumbai, April 25, 2003 thanks, mukesh jain. To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n Email secured by TPML Raksha Checkpoint To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
