First Draft
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
Table of Contents
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 greater independence and ease for visually impaired individuals when navigating public or unfamiliar environments.
Procedure
To evaluate the effectiveness of the smart cane system, 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.
During the first month, they lived in the apartment that we provided them. This allowed us to observe their behavior and interactions in a controlled environment. We monitored how frequently participants moved around the space, their ability to avoid obstacles, and how confidently they navigated unfamiliar layouts. The apartment environment included a variety of common features such as hallways, furniture, stairs, doors, and a backyard.
In the second month, participants were asked to return to their usual homes and continue using the assigned canes. This phase was intended to assess real-world application and long-term usability in various environments, including city streets, public transportation, and indoor facilities. We also visit them randomly without informing, so we could see the real situation of the users. At the end of two months, all participants completed a survey and interview assessing their experience. We gathered qualitative and quantitative data regarding ease of use, safety, confidence while navigating, and overall satisfaction. 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.
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.
