Dear Surya,
Please find below the answers to your queries. In addition to it, I have also put the link for the video tutorial for the SmartCane available in both Hindi and English. 1. Does it indicate all kinds of obstacles? Answer: Smartcane is a highly effective enhancement to the white cane which helps in detecting knee above obstacles such as tree branches, air conditioners, glass doors and overhanging. As mentioned before, the smart cane compliments the functionality of a regular white cane and fits on the top of it. This makes it important to maintain the regular tapping technique of a white cane. The device gives you a warning information of the knee above object without being in contact with them, resulting in a uninterrupted walk. 2. How many kind of vibrations does it produce? Answer: Smartcane has two modes of detection, which will determine the kind of vibrations it will produce. In long range mode, the SmartCane will be detecting obstacles up to 3 meters in front of the user, which is conveyed through 4 vibratory patterns. The user can also put in short range mode, which detects objects up to 1.8 meters away, conveyed through 3 easy vibratory patterns. The vibrations completely reply on the distance of the object; the closer the object faster the vibrations. 3. Can we differentiate the vibration levels? Answer: As mentioned earlier there are 4 vibrations which can be differentiated as follows: Pattern Number 1.- Single vibration pulse repeated every second after a pause. This pattern is only available in the long range mode when object is in the distance of 2-3 meters away ( approximately 6 to 7 footsteps away from the user of SmartCane). Pattern Number 2.- Two vibrations pulses with a small gap repeated every second after a pause. This pattern starts when an obstacle is within a distance of 1-2 meters of long range mode and 1 to 1.8 meters for short range mode ( i.e. 4 to 5 footsteps away from the user of SmartCane). Pattern Number 3.- Fast vibrations pulses with a small gap repeated every second. This patterns is felt when the object is within 0.5 to 1 meter of distance from the user. ( i.e. 2 to 3 footsteps away from the user). Pattern Number 4- Very fast vibrations pulses with a small gap repeated every second. This pattern starts when an object is at a distance of less than 0.5 meters for both long and short range mode.( i.e. 2 to 3 footsteps away from the user). 4. How far it helps us in our day to day life? Answer: If SmartCane is used with the white cane mobility techniques, user can detect ground or below knee height and the vibration pattern detects objects above the knee. Apart from that, if the SmartCane user is in a familiar place, they can use it without attaching a white cane to it, but if detached from the cane it will only detect knee above objects. Hence, recommended to use it with a white cane to detect both know below and high obstacles. The user will have an uninterrupted and collision free walk. The SmartCane is CE marked and meets International safety standards. After being tested, the team has found no adverse results and can be used according to the methods prescribed in the manual. After the trials, we have received highly positive reviews from various users. Several SmartCane users have said it has "increased their safety and added to their self-confidence". It will also increase the users regular walking speed and helping in finding/detecting passages, which adds to an independent living. One user in particular mentioned how it helped her in detecting glass panes. One can also get alarmed about a car approaching towards the user due to the cautionary triggered collision alarm. Apart from that, it also prevents awkward poking and collision with people while walking in crowded areas with the help of a short range mode available on the SmartCane. 5. What are the drawbacks you identified? Answer: There is an initial adaptation phase while learning to use the device, during which the users walking speed might slightly reduce due to the vibrations. But once the user gets accustomed to the SmartCane, he or she would be able to walk in their regular or increased speed. If there is a significant difference in the length of your old cane and the cane on which SmartCane is mounted, then you may experience some pain or discomfort in your wrist. However, the cane can be replaced with a compatible white cane of appropriate length available from the SmartCane distribution centers subject to availability. During rain one might need to switch off the device and take it off to prevent water from going inside. Though water seepage will not damage the device, however it may function abnormally till the time it dries up completely. Once the rain stops you can put the device back on your white cane and start using it normally. Here is the link for the video tutorials: http://smartcane.saksham.org/videos/ In addition to this email you can also visit our website : http://smartcane.saksham.org/ for further information on SmartCane. -- Regards, Anwesha Choudhuri SmartCane Saksham 486 Double Storey, New Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi – 110 060, India Helpline : +91-11-64650655 Website : www.smartcane.saksham.org Email : [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of suryanarayana ganta Sent: Tuesday, 01 April, 2014 03:30 PM Subject: Re: [AI] A 'smart cane' for the visually impaired | Business Line Dear Pranav ji, I wish to understand a few points: Does it indicate all kinds of obstacles? how many kinds of vibrations does it produce? can we differentiate the vibration levels? How far it helps us in our day-today life? what are its drawbacks you identified? If it is really useful, I would also recommend my local people to buy it. After getting reply from you Iwill in touch. Thankks for your expected answer. On 3/31/14, Rahul Gambhir <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Friends > Sharing the news for launch of much awated mobility device. > > A ‘smart cane’ for the visually impaired Navadha Pandey > > New Delhi, March 31: > > After smartphones and smartcards, here comes the SmartCane – a > home-grown, affordable electronic device for the visually impaired. > > The ultrasonic device, launched by IIT Delhi on Monday, can be fixed > on the top fold of the white cane to detect obstacles above knee-level > at a distance ranging from one metre to three metres. Its carrier is > alerted by different vibratory patterns. > > Under the institute’s Assistive Technologies Group (ASSISTech), the > electronic mobility aid for the visually impaired was developed > jointly with Saksham Trust and Chennai-based Phoenix Medical Systems, > with ₹3-crore funding from Wellcome Trust of the UK. > > The product’s USP is its low cost of ₹3,000, inclusive of training and > distribution costs. IIT Delhi Director R K Shevgaonkar said, “This > product is an example of India-centric research in terms of > affordability and what the society needs. The cost of this product is > one-tenth of similar devices available in the international market.” > > Rohan Paul, an IIT Delhi alumnus whose team is behind the product, > said, “this has been a nine-year-long journey. The project started out > as a course under Prof Balasubramaniam at IIT Delhi. Dipendra Manocha, > Director of Saksham Trust and Delhi-President of National Association > of Blind, highlighted the need for mobility, which is a fundamental > need, and the fact that there has been no innovation in this field for > so long. ” > > The technology was then transferred from IIT Delhi to Chennai-based > Phoenix Medical Systems for just Re 1. Phoenix is responsible for > manufacturing the device. > > On how the team managed to keep the cost so low, Paul said, “You begin > with affordability as a goal. Use low-cost electronics, easy sensors, > no fancy vibrations and look at lifecycle cost. The product should be > high-quality and should not break for five years, and its repair costs > should be low. Then, you highlight the product within the research > community to ensure that the production cost is borne by the State or > philanthropy.” > > Chirag Gambhir, a second year student at Sri Venakteswara College, > Delhi University, said, “My brother has been using the SmartCane for > some time now. Because the technology is simple, one can easily switch > from the white cane to SmartCane.” > > Meanwhile, the Government has started procurement of the device. Paul > said around 1,000 units had been ordered under the Scheme of > Assistance to Disabled Persons under the Ministry of Social Justice > and Empowerment. “Apart from this, we have 20 community partners in 10 > states for dissemination of these canes. With their feedback, we will > start scaling up,” he added. > > According to the World Health Organisation, 285 million people are > estimated to be visually impaired worldwide, with 90 per cent in > developing countries. India is home for 12 million people with > blindness, the largest for any country in the world (2011 census > data). > > (This article was published on March 31, 2014) > > Source: > http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/smartbuy/a-smart-cane-for > -the-visually-impaired/article5855335.ece > > With Best Regards > Rahul Gambhir > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing > accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_acc > essindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org > .in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking > of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its > veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the > mails sent through this mailing list.. > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
