[NABS-L] Smart Cane? What?

[Mariya Vasileva]

hi there, I have heard of this technology, and it is pretty legitimate because I’ve heard of many people trying to create such a device. I personally think that traveling with a long white cane is the best way to go because technology always has its flaws just like humans do, and relying on such a thing too much will make a person forget how to use the old techniques. The same thing occurs with people using a GPS system and the directions are sucky, but when the GPS system fails their directions improve once again because they have to rely on them. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind innovation, but sometimes you have to know when to draw the line between old fashion Waze of doing things and technology. Technology really enhances our experiences, it doesn’t and shouldn’t replace the old ways of doing things. Those are my thoughts on it.
Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 13, 2020, at 11:30 PM, Naim Abu-ElHawa via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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
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