[Promotion-technology] Fw: City Cane

[Everett Gavel]

Okay, I'll ask.  First, how would this cane work here
in the USA, where most if not all traffic lights are in
the middle of the streets above head, car, and truck
levels?

Personally, I think it's a bit more of too typical
lunacy.  Do people in Europe not run red lights
occasionally as they do over here?  Until someone can
show me better logic, it still seems better, safer, to
learn to listen to the sounds of traffic, feel for
curbs and slants, etc.  As someone with even halfway
proper cane skills would know how to do.

I'd feel a little silly grasping a pole and hoisting my
cane up into the air searching for something that over
here, may not be in the same place all the time anyway.
Especially when it'd be more efficient to just learn to
get around competently with a stick (i.e., non-electric
cane) and use your other senses.

I love advances in technology.  But some of the uses
seem wasteful more than helpful.  These kinds of things
(in my opinion) mislead some people, too, and might
even give a false sense of security while traveling.
It can be misleading in that it is showing the public
that sight is necessary for a blind person.  They have
to use a cane that 'sees" the light.

Now, when they came out with the Bookport, for instance
(and for $400 rather than $1400), I was excited.  And
when they get a talking GPS system into a normal-sized
wristwatch band, then I'll be elated.  When they get a
money-identifier in the same kind of normal-sized
wristwatch band, I'll hoot and hollar.  And, hey, if
they already have such things and I missed that, wow,
let me know please.  *smile*

Anyway, thanks for this update on some of the latest
tech.


Everett
www.everettgavel.com

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael May" <mikemay at SENDEROGROUP.COM>
> To: <OANDM at LIST.MSU.EDU>
> Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 2:07 PM
> Subject: City Cane
>
>
> >I am in Frankfurt at the Sight City conference. One
of the items I stumbled
> >across might be of interest if it hasn't already
come across this list.
> >
> > A new company has a device called the City Cane.
Apparently, it is being
> > used here in Germany and a couple other countries.
This is a folding cane
> > with a shock absorbing handle/first section. It is
rather nice when you
> > bump into a wall or snag the cane on a cobblestone,
there is some give to
> > the cane through the shock system.
> >
> > The unique aspect of the City Cane however is that
it senses the color of
> > traffic lights. The sensor is in the handle of the
cane. In Europe, the
> > signal lights are all within reach of the
pedestrian so the City Cane user
> > simply runs the cane up the light pole and the cane
beeps when the light
> > turns green.  The handle sensor has to be within
several inches of the
> > light. The producer says they can change the
processor so the white walk
> > light in the U.S. can be sensed as well as the
green walk light in Europe.
> >
> > I tested this City Cane and it worked as
advertised. The cost in Europe is
> > a hefty $600. The producer recognizes that this
price won't fly in the
> > U.S. and hopes that an organization or company will
bring it into the U.S.
> > much cheaper.
> >
> > After experiencing the heavy weight of the Ultra
Cane, I was pleasantly
> > surprised that this electronic cane was not much
different from a standard
> > folding cane. They are reluctant to release a unit
into the U.S. because
> > of patent issues. I hope someone has a chance to
test it soon.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >