Prototype - Self-Standing White Cane for the blind

Introduction

White cane is an essential assistive device for the blind and the visually impaired. A blind person uses a white cane to experience the world around them. A white cane can also be used to identify a blind or a visually impaired person.

While some white canes can be folded and carried in a bag, the standard canes are about 4 feet long and rigid. So, these canes could become cumbersome to handle when the visually imparied person need to use both their hands, such as when they are washing their hands, trying out clothes, checking out at stores or writing cheques etc.

The goal of this project is to build a solution that allows a visually impaired person do their everyday activities that require both their hands without having to juggle their cane.

Approach

To build the solution, I worked with a co-designer, Jill, who is visually impaired and needs to use a white cane when traveling outside her house. I conducted mulitple discovery sessions and identified specifications for the solution.

Specifications

1. Aesthetically pleasing: Simple design, not too much technology, personalized and reflective

2. Lightweight: The solution must not be too heavy because she carries around the cane all day

3. Cleanable: She uses her cane almost everywhere she goes. Her cane gets dirty easily. The solution should be easily cleaned

4. Simple: The solution should be simple enough such that it doesn’t require her to read elaborate user manuals to use it.

5. Cost effective: The solution should not be permanently attached to one cane but could be transferred to other new canes

Available Solutions

I started out by reviewing and researching solutions that are already in the market. The available solutions did not meet all of the co-designers requirements.

For example, a hook-based attachment would always require something to hook on. Other solutions such as the smart cane are costly and not easily transferrable from one cane to another.

Design

Working closely with the co-designer, I used an iterative design process to develop a self-standing cane.

I started with one design concept and worked with the co-designer to get feedback. I used the feedback to refine my design and developed subsequent designs. Through this iterative process, my co-designer and I developed 4 design concepts. My co-designer selected the concept that she preferred the most and I proceed to the next step to 3D model the concept.

Model

The selected concept was inspired by stands that allow smartphones to be placed on a flat surface and use them hands-free.

I used Autodesk Inventor to model the parts for the self-standing cane. The overall design included the following parts:

• A base

• 3 legs to create a tri-pod

• 4 sprockets to provide 3 dimensional movement of the legs

• 3 screws

• 3 washers to hold the screws

I printed these parts using the Prusa i3 MK3S+ printer at a local Makerspace.

User Acceptance Testing

My co-designer and I assembled the parts together and attached the stand to the cane to create the self-standing cane. My co-designer tested the stand by using the cane and the stand for her everyday activities. My co-designer really liked the utility and the aesthetics of the stand and solves a major pain-point with her accessibility,

Future Directions

• Improve the design to add features such as actuator controls and stability sensors

• Open source the template so that widespread usage

• Develop a kit for the visually impaired and add this stand as an essential component