Hi, Robin.
Two concerns that I would have regarding this cane are its durability and how
well it holds up against bad weather conditions. Regarding durability we can
all relate to the experience of having a sighted person breaking our canes.
When this happens, since it's rare that they've been willing to reimburse me, I
have to purchase a new cane but at least I'm only out another thirty dollars or
so, give or take a few more, perhaps. So what if someone busts this awesome
$600 cane, which I think is roughly how much it costs. That's a lot of money
that's now lost. I also wonder how well it holds up to getting drenched in a
major downpour or snowstorm.
David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
WWW.DavidGoldfield.org<http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.org>
On 12/8/2019 8:12 PM, Robin Frost wrote:
Hi,
Thank you that jumped out at me as well when I first read the article and at
first I thought is this a weird social network for the blind or what? It just
seemed so bizarre to me. Ah well our work is never done or so it seems and
while it may be an interesting idea I wonder how many are actually using it or
how many O&M professionals would even be interested in it. I mean people still
need to navigate and use skills of their own in case the thing’s batteries or
its connectivity dies. Again I’m not one who says just because I wouldn’t use
it no one should I’m way more live and let live but you’d think if this thing
were taking the world by storm we’d be hearing of it everywhere.
Take good care.
Robin
From: David Goldfield
Sent: Sunday, December 8, 2019 3:59 PM
To: blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-philly-comp] Re: Let’s WeWALK Together
Since I'm on a roll when it comes to the importance of words let me quote
something from this article which I believe is very problematic.
"A fully-independent, safe and social life for the blind is now possible."
I don't know if this quote is from the company which produces and sells this
product or if it comes from the blogger who is highlighting the product. In
either case the writer should have known better. This implies that we
previously lived unsafe lives, were unable to socialize and that we were
dependent on others to travel prior to the introduction of this product. This
is shameful and misleading nonsense.
David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
WWW.DavidGoldfield.org<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.DavidGoldfield.org&data=02%7C01%7C%7C4d1f12e7a8444fb3596708d77c44efb9%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637114507822438010&sdata=2THqvV1unnYwcPLJufZ3Qzy%2FNSyeAzF972YZ0PvIrZA%3D&reserved=0>
On 12/7/2019 5:58 AM, David Goldfield wrote:
Assistive Technology at Easter Seals Crossroads - Thursday, December 5, 2019 at
11:36 AM
Let’s WeWALK Together
Did you know there are more than 10 million visually-impaired people in the
U.S.? And 250 million people in the entire world? What if there was a better,
more efficient and safer way to navigate? Now you can. There’s a revolutionary
technology for the visually-impaired that is changing all the rules.
Introducing
WeWALK<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwewalk.io%2Fen%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C4d1f12e7a8444fb3596708d77c44efb9%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637114507822438010&sdata=UpCb2s3ztYDSp4g50Y3XAzsNJqzOXhpSFR%2FqESnmJ3c%3D&reserved=0>.
A fully-independent, safe and social life for the blind is now possible.
WeWALK technology is simply amazing, and it’s changing lives for the visually
impaired. It can certainly be troublesome to constantly take out your phone,
look at Google or even ask directions to see if you’re in the right place. With
WeWALK, you can navigate safely through smartphone integration.
Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk
This white cane uses smartphone integration. You can pair it with your phone!
It aims to help visually-impaired people navigate their surroundings and
predict what’s ahead. WeWALK is equipped with built-in speakers and sensors
that send vibrations to warn users of obstacles up ahead with a customizable,
ultra-sonic sensor. Plus, WeWALK’s revolutionary technology is built around an
open platform. This means third parties will be able to add their own
smartphone-based functionality down the road, such as ridesharing apps and
transportation services. There’s really no limit on improving it’s navigational
abilities! It’s easy to use and convenient. WeWALK smart cane runs on iOS-based
and Android mobile phones. You charge the battery through a USB input, and it
lasts for five hours at a time.
The inventor of WeWALK uses the device too. Turkish designer Kursat Ceylan
invented the cane to use modern technology as a tool for the visually impaired.
He is also blind. Ceylan is the CEO and co-founder of Young Guru Academy, the
non-profit behind the invention.
“In these days, we are talking about flying cars, but these people have been
using just a plain stick,” he explained to CNN. “As a blind person, when I am
at the metro station, I don’t know which is my exit … I don’t know which bus is
approaching … which stores are around me. That kind of information can be
provided with the WeWALK.”
See the WeWALK in action!
[embedded content]
You can also learn more about the WeWALK here:
https://wewalk.io/en/<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwewalk.io%2Fen%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C4d1f12e7a8444fb3596708d77c44efb9%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637114507822448020&sdata=3B7Yxh5vyYzJFfbUM%2Bvr925Wyz7bG%2B0jZ%2FE09%2FhoGg8%3D&reserved=0>.
Share this...
https://www.eastersealstech.com/2019/12/05/lets-wewalk-together/<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eastersealstech.com%2F2019%2F12%2F05%2Flets-wewalk-together%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C4d1f12e7a8444fb3596708d77c44efb9%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637114507822448020&sdata=jd8udA4dvcoS9FAaVvMtWVLOd5Qq195S3y2h0Qd0nxI%3D&reserved=0>
David Goldfield
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.info<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.DavidGoldfield.info&data=02%7C01%7C%7C4d1f12e7a8444fb3596708d77c44efb9%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637114507822458026&sdata=hNXAdBs6D1oSBWuXfiIoy7CegzSq5tvptT1qLW6MS6o%3D&reserved=0>
