Tweet31-01-2010 om 17:32 by Maastricht Region Branding Foundation

'The I-Cane Foundation', located in Simpelveld, 'wants visually impaired people to get the same opportunities as non-disabled people. It is our social responsibility to provide the visually impaired with mobility improving technologies. Mobility should not only be available to those who are so lucky to have full sensory faculties', states Huub Grooten, initiator of the I-Cane Foundation on their website.

The intelligent cane would considerably improve the safety, mobility and ability to do things independently of people with a visual impairment.

There already are several technological aids for the visually impaired for detecting obstacles and for navigation. These aids are however not geared to one another and make a strong appeal to the perceptual and cognitive skills of the user. With maintaining the advantages of the classic white stick (recognition, passing on physical signals), there obviously is a strong need for an integrated solution that will add the possibilities of modern technologies to this classic cane.

The I-Cane system, being developed in Simpelveld, Limburg, will be equipped with several modules. Each module will have various functions of which the user can choose by means of the ‘plug-and-play’ options. Choosing functions based on the user’s own requirements is an enormous step forward. Integration and configuration are key words in this perspective.

The concept is based on a modular and integrated construction for the following functions:

1. obstacle detection: to prevent the users from barging into obstacles on their way;


2. navigation: to find the way via a predetermined route;


3. integration of communication from external sources such as local information and change of schedules;


4. information provision by means of the handle;


5. central intelligence to watch over security.

Source: www.meuse-rhine-journal.com and www.i-cane.nl

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