Tips on the end of canes that is. For many years I have used a tip called a "rolling ball." It is different than the mushroom or marshmallow tips that some people have because the ball is larger in diameter and hollow. The end of the cane is kept on the ground and the ball rolls back and forth in front of you as you walk. The advantages of this tip are that it doesn't get stuck as much as a straight tip and because it is hollow it gives the acoustic information that is missing in both the straight tips and some of the larger solid tips. This tip has worked very well for me for over 20 years I am sure it could be fabricated in India for much less money than I pay for mine that I get from Canada. More cane tips or rather, tips for using canes: It is essential that the movement of your cane covers the entire width of your body. You must ensure that your cane has touched the ground in all the places where you intend to put your feet thus avoiding holes or compensating for uneven ground. If you are right-handed for example, you would hold your cane in your right hand but your hand would be in the center of your body, not to the side. In this way you will be sure to touch everything. When you encounter an obsticle, you would move your cane first to explore where you want to put your feet before actually stepping there. Whether or not your cane should remain on the ground or hit the ground with more of a tapping action is debatable. I leave mine on the ground because I get more information that way and minimize the chance of missing something important. Feeling subtle changes in the ground or floor with my cane first gives me information about where I am. The length of a cane is also important. Most canes in India are to short for maximum effectiveness and present a safety problem. So the cane can be used at its full length so you have time to stop or change course if necessary. This avoids the problem of coming up on a flight of steps for example and not having enough time to react in time to line up properly on the steps. Although having a longer cane is necessary, it is also necessary to shorten the length by moving your hand down below the handle to accomodate our traffic situation and overcrowding found in India and many developing countries. This is just situational management and practice to know how far in front of you the tip of your cane should be in different situations. There are a million strategies like this that people use every day to keep themselves independent and safe. We could have entire discussions and debates on how to ask questions, using compass directions, listening for information, dealing with the public, keeping bags and belongings from getting stolen, traveling on trains and buses, handling money, etc.
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