At CES 2025, Gokhan Mericililer, CEO and co-founder of WeWalk, unveiled the Smart Cane 2, a device designed to transform the traditional white cane into a high-tech mobility companion for the visually impaired. By integrating advanced sensors and AI, the company aims to modernize a tool that has remained largely unchanged for over a century.
Evolving a Centuries-Old Tool
For generations, the white cane has been a fundamental symbol of independence. While people have used staffs for navigation since ancient times, the modern white cane has a specific 20th-century origin:
- The James Biggs Innovation (1921): After losing his sight in an accident, Bristol-based photographer James Biggs painted his walking stick white to make himself more visible to the increasing motor traffic of the era.
- Global Recognition: This simple innovation sparked movements in France and the U.S., eventually leading to the first White Cane Safety Day proclamation by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
The scale of the need for such tools is vast in 2025:
- Global Visual Impairment: An estimated 295 million people worldwide live with visual impairment.
- Blindness Statistics: Current data indicates there are roughly 43 million people globally who are blind.
Intelligent Features of the Smart Cane 2
Mericililer describes the new device as an “all-in-one” tool that enhances safety and independence through several key layers of technology:
- Ultrasound Obstacle Detection: Unlike traditional canes that only detect ground-level hazards, WeWalk uses ultrasound sensors to scan for overhead and chest-level obstacles like tree branches or traffic poles.
- Clockwise Navigation: Powered by TDK motion sensors, the cane provides precision wayfinding. Instead of vague “left or right” instructions, the cane guides users via clockwise directions (e.g., “turn toward 2 o’clock”).
- AI Voice Assistant: A built-in microphone and Harman speaker allow users to interact with the cane using natural language to ask questions or start navigation.
Global Partnerships & WeAssist
WeWalk operates across 3,000 cities and is available in 15 languages. A critical component of their ecosystem is the WeAssist feature, which bridges the gap where automated technology may fall short:
- Professional Visual Assistance: WeAssist is a professional video call service that connects users with trained human agents via the WeWalk app for real-time visual support.
- Barrier-Free Infrastructure: WeWalk partners with major entities like TAV Airports and Akra Hotels to provide this service free of charge to customers, allowing them to navigate complex indoor environments like airport terminals with live human guidance.
- Research and Advocacy: The company collaborates with leading institutions such as Imperial College London, Microsoft, and the San Francisco Lighthouse to refine their roadmap toward fully “autonomous navigation”.
References
- WeWALK Official Website: Product specifications and WeAssist service details.
- Lions Vision Resource Network: Historical context of George A. Bonham and the Peoria Lions Club in the 1930s.
- World Health Organization (WHO) & IAPB: Global blindness and vision impairment statistics for 2025.
- TAV Airports: Partnership details for enhanced airport accessibility.
[Note: the above text was directed and edited by the author, but written by Google’s Gemini].