Submitted by Atakan on and last modified on 6 December, 2019
Category:
Description of App:
WeWALK is developing assistive technologies including the world’s smartest cane for visually impaired and it’s awarded by Edison Award and TIME Magazine.
This technology increases visually impaired people’s independence and promotes equal and full- participation in society with its features like navigation through Google Maps, Alexa Voice Assistant service, public transportation integrations, and obstacle detection.
You can use WeWALK's iOS and Anroid applications without having a WeWALK Smart Cane. You can use these features below:
- Accessible navigation: WeWALK App offers more accessible navigation than other navigation applications like Google Maps. So you can easily reach the location you want to go. Also "What's around me feature" is coming soon.
- Public Transportation Integration: Your can learn nearby stops and learn upcoming buses with their timetables while waiting at the stop. (This feature is currently only available in Istanbul Turkey. However WeWALK developers are working to support all countries. You can contact the developer team if you want to use it in your country.)
WeWALK will use world-class AI and machine learning algorithms to develop new features, understand how its product is being held and used, and how people move in social situations.
Apple Watch Support:
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iOS Version:
Accessibility Comments:
WeWALK can be used with voice over accessible.
VoiceOver Performance:
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Other Comments:
The WeWALK app has a smart cane. If desired, it can be used more easily in the application by means of a cane. You can visit the website for detailed information.
5 Comments
#1 this cane
Submitted by brandon armstrong on
hello all, I've seen products like this from time to time come and go just as quickly. I'de love to buy this cane, but the price tag is what is keeping me away. it's more expensive then the triditional cane that I can get from l s and s for twenty bucks.
#2 RE: This Cane
Submitted by sockhopsinger on
My concern with a cane like this is that I will get so busy listening to feedback from the cane that I will forget to pay attention to my surroundings. As someone who has been using a cane since before Noah built the Ark, I believe a cane like this would be more distraction than assistance. I do not believe a technological cane can give enough feedback about cracks in the sidewalks, overhanging tree branches, etc. I applaud the efforts of the company, but something like this is not for me. If others have had success with this, I hope they will post their stories here.
#3 I have one.
Submitted by Eric Davis on
I have a Wewalk smart cane. It is impressive. I have used it in independent mode most of the time. I will get some way to use it with headphones that don't block out the world. I have used it with the app a little bit and it works well. Over all I would describe it as an impressive device and companion app.
I like it a great deal.
#4 Weight
Submitted by Imaginingstuff on
How hevy is it? The NFB free cane is so light I love it. I can walk for hours with it and my wrist and arm don't get tired or sore. My friend wears earing aids, audio cues would be hard for him to hear. It sounds like it could be distracting. I'd love to hear about other peoples experiances.
A
#5 My experience
Submitted by Chris on
I was given one of these as a gift and I'm not enthused. Well, let me restate that. I think it's a good idea, but mostly impractical for me. The vibration feedback for obstructions is a great idea, although I found the unit would constantly vibrate. Perhaps I wasn't holding it correctly, but I wasn't really impressed.
The GPS feature is a nice idea, but it's still sadly limited by current GPS technology. I find it very difficult to hear the instructions coming from the tiny speaker of the device, and they aren't even that helpful. I want a GPS system that tells me exactly how to get from point A to B, and describe what's around me in great detail. My spacial awareness is horrible, to the point where I don't really want to go places most of the time unless I know exactly where I'm going. I don't find it fun wandering around aimlessly bashing into things trying to find a specific room on a specific floor of a specific building. This is why I have no problems asking someone for help getting somewhere. It saves time and lets my brain focus on more important tasks.
I've also found the cane to be very uncomfortable to hold. The unit at the top is too heavy and is not really practical to hold for long periods of time. The app is a good idea, but it's very limited. The only thing I can do with it is check battery level and set up a GPS route.
This is not intended to bash the product, not at all. I genuinely like the idea, it just isn't quite the product I would have liked. I'll contact the developers and give them this feedback. Maybe they can make software improvements or keep these considerations in mind for future hardware revisions.
Ideally, I would have liked something with a camera and object recognition to telll me about the environment. Perhaps it could work with the app to pull data from map services or something, I don't know. Sadly, this is not that dream device. It definitely is a step in the right direction, but it's not the awesome solution to navigation I'm looking for.