Experiment 1

Smart White Cane and Headset System for the Visually impaired

ENGL 21007: Writing for Engineering

Weyn, Suzanne

Author Name: Sandy Chen Chen

Experiment Contacted on: 01/05/2025

Report Submitted on : 01/05/2025

City College of New York

Cover page…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1

Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………..3

Procedure ………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………..……4

Results………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………….5

Conclusion………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………..…..6

Introduction

Whether due to congenital defects or accidents, a large number of people are visually handicapped. This makes it very hard for them to go outdoors and navigate unfamiliar environments, which makes them lack mobility and social participation. They usually use the traditional white canes to help them detect any obstacles; however, it can only detect objects that are directly in front of or beneath them, such as curbs or steps, and cannot alert users to hazards at head height, such as tree branches, or open cabinets. Furthermore, it offers no guidance or information about the broader environment, such as the layout of unfamiliar locations or the presence of nearby landmarks. As a result, many visually impaired individuals remain indoors or depend on others to navigate public spaces, limiting their independence.

To address this limitation, this article will introduce a smart canes system designed specifically for visually impaired users. The system combines with an advanced obstacle detection and real-time environmental feedback through a headset equipped with audio output. This can help visually impaired individuals avoid any hazards and know what is happening surrounding them, which can increase the safety of going outdoors. Additionally, the smart cane is integrated with AI voice assistant technology, similar to Siri. When the user speaks the assistant’s name and gives a command, the system would respond back and perform the requested task, such as giving directions, identifying nearby landmarks, or reading notifications. This smart functionality is intended to promote users’ safety and confidence while navigating unfamiliar environments.

Procedure

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of the smart cane system to enhance user safety for individuals with visual impairments. Safety was measured by recording and comparing the number of obstacles with incidents and the users’ perceived safety while incidents. We conducted a two-month study involving 200 individuals with visual impairments. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, one was a control group using traditional white canes, and the other one was an experimental group using the smart canes developed for this project. The experiment was conducted into two different parts : a control environment and a real-world outdoor environment. Data was collected by direct observation, interview and surveys.

Control environment: During the first month, the participants lived in the apartment provided by our research team. The apartment environment included a variety of common features such as hallways, furniture, stairs, doors, and a backyard.This allowed us to observe their behavior and interactions in a controlled environment. The participants were instructed to carry out routine daily activities, such as accessing the kitchen or walking to the backyard. This allowed us to observe how frequently participants moved around the space and how well they avoided obstacles. Besides, at the end of each week, we would interview each participant to rate their sense of security on a scale of 1 to 5.

Real-World outdoor environment: In the second month, participants were asked to return to their usual homes and continue using the assigned canes. They were asked to continue documenting their experiences using a standardized weekly safety log that recorded:

Number of outdoor activities per week.
Any obstacle relate to incidents
Assistance requested

Furthermore, we also made an unannounced visit to observe participants navigating the public, such as city streets, public transportation, and indoor facilities. This part was intended to assess real-world application and long-term usability in a variety of environments. At the end of two months, all participants completed a survey and interview assessing their experience one by one. We gathered qualitative and quantitative data regarding how safe they felt in different situations and whether the cane system helped them avoid specific hazards. This feedback was used to compare the effectiveness of the smart cane versus the traditional white cane.

Results

After collecting the data from the experimental group and control group, we found out that with the help of smart canes, they are more willing to go outdoors compared with the people who are using the traditional white canes. The majority of the experimental group reported feeling more confident navigating unfamiliar environments and encountering fewer obstacles. Many noted that the audio feedback and voice command features were especially helpful in identifying potential hazards and understanding their surroundings. In addition, the data also showed that users with the smart cane had fewer incidents of tripping or bumping into objects. Some participants also reported feeling less anxious when walking alone, and more motivated to engage in outdoor activities such as shopping, commuting, and exercising in public spaces. The chart below compares the control and experimental groups in terms of the outdoor activities, number of obstacle-related incidents, and self-reported confidence levels.

Category	Smart Cane (Experimental Group)	Traditional Cane (Control Group)
Outdoor Activities/week	5.2	2.1
Obstacle-Related Incidents	4.5	11.3
Confidence Level (1-5)	4.3	2.6

Conclusion

The experiment of the smart cane system demonstrates a significantly enhanced mobility, confidence, and independence for visually impaired individuals. By combining the AI-driven obstacle detection and environmental reporting features, the smart cane addresses many limitations compared with the traditional white canes. Future developments should focus on refining the AI’s capabilities, expanding real-time navigation features such as GPS integration, and conducting longer-term studies to evaluate sustained user benefits. The promising results of this study support the continued advancement of assistive technologies to improve the quality of life for the visually impaired community.

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