Electronic cane to support visually challenged
| 3:17 PM | G. V. Prasada Sarma |
In a smart world man has a number of gadgets to make his work and life
comfortable and communicate faster. But for the visually challenged poor, it is
still a cane that helps him/her find way. With increasing population and
traffic and spaces becoming more crowded, its use is becoming difficult.
To help overcome the handicap, the Vision Aid Charitable Services Society
(VACSS) here has come out with an electronic cane.
The cane measuring 20 inches is made of UPVC. It comprises a sensor with
transmitter and receiver at the lower-end, a vibrator close to the grip and
works on a rechargeable battery.
Beeps and vibrations
When the user switches it on, it emits broken beeps and vibration when the
object/obstacle is in the vicinity and continuous beep when closer. The beep is
to alert the other people about the presence of a visually challenged person
and the vibration alerts the user about the objects in the path.
“The range is about 1.5 metres. Anything longer is likely to be
counterproductive and if it is too short may lead to collision,” explains M.S.
Raju, president of VACSS.
Quoting World Health Organisation statistics, Mr. Raju, an IITian from
Kharagpur and former executive chairman of the Stone Telecom, says while about
two crore people have visual impairment in the country, the highest in the
world, half of them cannot see at all.
About 20 lakh have to move about to lead their life. For them there has not
been any improvement over the white cane for a long time now, he observes.
Mr. Raju says the electronic cane being produced in the other countries is
either expensive or the research is incomplete.
In the country, IIT, Delhi and Kharagpur, have developed prototypes with more
sensors and analogue system where the users are alerted through earphones.
However, it cuts off the user from the environment, he points out. They are
costlier, longer and heavier, he says.
The cane developed by the VACSS is easy to use and costs a maximum of Rs.2,500.
Source:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/electronic-cane-to-support-visually-challenged/article5525952.ece
Regards,
Shiv
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