Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The white sugarcane of the 21st century. While many technology companies have worked increasingly to make technology accessible to the blind and visually impaired, staff have not benefited much from these advances.
London born WeWalk takes a traditional approach to the white stick. On top of the bulkier handle, there isn’t much that sets the company’s product apart from the folding stick.
The company currently offers two models: $ 850 Smartcane 2 and $ 1,150 Smartcane + 2. The main difference between the tiers is the final integration of the voice assistant – a seemingly valuable tool for a blind person on the go. In addition to detecting obstacles on the ground, the system can detect potential obstacles ahead.
The system connects wirelessly to an iPhone / Android smartphone, allowing users to stream directly from the stick through the onboard speaker. The buttons on the handle can also be used to connect directly to the phone, eliminating the need for mobile phones.
It was parked next door to the CES show floor, Washington state-based Glidance is the newest entrant on the scene. The startup describes its product, Glide, as a “self-driving, self-guided assistance,” or, simply put, a robot. Instead of having a fixed shape, the Glide has a handle attached to the wheels.
The $1,500 plan ($1,799 with an annual subscription) is in a soft launch mode, following pre-orders. The system is equipped with stereo depth cameras and takes a very professional approach. In addition to avoiding obstacles, it alerts the user when they approach a door, elevator, stairs, or entrance, and temporarily closes when they reach this line to avoid oncoming traffic.
The company says that shipping is about a year. Glidance has raised $1.5 million in funding and is currently in the process of closing a $5 million seed round.
