[NFB-Talk] intellicane

[Buddy Brannan]

My first reaction is, “What, another one?” I’m not against it because of its potential to decrease necessary travel and orientation instruction. Those skills are never not going to be needed. I just don’t really understand how such a device is an improvement over a “dumb cane”. A regular cane facilitates obstacle avoidance on its own. It detects steps and drop-offs. A “smart cane” would do these things as well, perhaps at a longer distance from the user, but with more weight, bulk, and more failure points. If someone can actually come up with a device that offers something that a regular cane does not, that will be of some actual use, I’d like to hear it. For way finding devices that are not in a cane form factor, I’m really not interested until they can detect steps and drop-offs as reliably as a cane or guide dog does. Otherwise, it’s a solution in search of a problem. 


--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: buddy at brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962




> On Feb 24, 2022, at 1:44 PM, Jen via nFB-Talk <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Personally, I'm against this idea. We wouldn't have a need for orientation and mobility skills if this was to catch on. What does everyone else think?
> 
> On Thursday, February 24, 2022, 01:24:47 PM EST, Michael Bullis via nFB-Talk <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Stanford researchers are developing an intelligent cane that will detect objects and guide the user around them among  features.  Please take this short survey to assist them in their work and register to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
> 
> https://forms.gle/nRo2fgrik396frb77
> 
>  
>  
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