An AI-enabled smart cane designed to transform the lives of people with sight loss has won a prestigious international design award.
The WeWALK Smart Cane was recognised by the iF International Forum Design at this year’s product design awards. The awards have been running since the 1950s and receive more than 5500 entries from around 60 nations each year.
The WeWALK Smart Cane is the same size and weight as a traditional white cane, but uses enhanced technology and sensors to detect obstacles, provide navigation, and integrate with public transport to enable people with sight loss to get around quickly and safely, and live much more independently. It also includes an AI-powered voice assistant that can give directions or travel tips, linking to a smartphone via Bluetooth.
The cane was one of the cutting-edge pieces of technology on show in Glasgow at RNIB Scotland’s Inclusive Design for Sustainability conference. The event brings together global tech giants such as Google with leading scientists and innovators. Where the latest AI-assisted innovations that help with work, mobility, and leisure for people with sight loss are on show.
Attendees have been interacting with RoboGuide, an AI-powered robotic guide dog developed by the University of Glasgow, which helps people with visual impairments find their way around indoor spaces.
Keynote speakers include Dr Wanda Diaz-Merced, a blind astronomer who has pioneered the practice of converting space data into sound, allowing her to ‘hear’ celestial objects. Dr Walton Aubrey Webson, the first visually impaired person to serve as a UN Ambassador, gave the opening speech.
RNIB Scotland held the conference as part of its focus on ensuring that everyone with sight loss has access to the technology to live the life they want to lead.
Around 183,000 people in Scotland currently live with a significant degree of sight loss, and more than two million across the UK. An ageing population, and rising rates of sight-threatening health conditions such as diabetes, means the number of people affected could double in as little as 20 years.
James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring together experts from such a wide range of fields to inform and inspire people about the possibilities of technology for transforming the lives of people with sight loss. We have never been at a more exciting point for changing the way that blind and partially sighted people can live, work and have fun. New developments that can help increase accessibility and tackle exclusion are more important than ever, as the number of people with sight loss is set to rapidly increase. It is vital that we work together to ensure that everyone benefits from technological advances so they are truly inclusive.”
Dr Jean Marc Feghali, Chief Technology Officer of WeWALK, said: “Driven by our lived experience of visual impairment, WeWALK has come a long way since launching our first product. Smart Cane 2 embodies years of feedback from our key partners, including RNIB, Guide Dogs UK, and thousands of users in over 60 countries. The Inclusive Design for Sustainability conference is a testament to the power of collaboration, bringing together the very organisations that have helped shape our technology.”
For more information visit https://www.rnib.org.uk/scotland
