[NABS-L] Smart Cane? What?

[Naim Abu-ElHawa]

Hi Fellow Students,
Good Day! How is everybody doing? Between filling out the National
Federation Of The Blind National Scholarship, being busy with work through
the middle of the semester, and Washington Seminar just behind us, I know
we are all busy. I stumbled across an advertisement/marketing campaign
surrounding a BLIND engineer’s vision come True; a Smart Cane equipped with
a voice assistant, GPS Capabilities, and some absurd vibrating
features/sensory enhancements. This has been launched by some initiative by
the name of ”We Walk,” or something. Does anyone know about this? Any
thoughts? I just stumbled across this information on Facebook and found out
that this actually is for sale on Amazon for $499. And for all those who
are interested, No, I do not have a Facebook account. Nor do I care to
engage in Facebook‘s shenanigans. Is this We Walk Smart Cane a whole bunch
of bogus? Is this Misinformation? Is this a poor representation of blind
people? Is this legitimate? How effective is the technology? Does it impede
upon one‘s ability to travel with a long white cane? Any and all feedback
will be appreciated for its value. I am just curious and confused, to say
the least. It would be unfair for me to form an opinion without having any
knowledge of this product. I would love to also hear from any Cane Travel
Instructors, or otherwise experts, who may be on this Email List Serve.
Many thanks and much respect.
Sincerely,
Naim Muawia Abu-El Hawa