Kursat Ceylan was born in Turkey blind. So he grew up learning how to navigate his town without sight. But as he grew into adulthood he struggled getting around using a traditional cane when he visited new towns because he had no point of reference to know where he was going. Frustrated, Kursat spent many hours thinking there had to be a way for technology to help. Then he created a high-tech smart cane called We Walk to help.
The smart cane pairs with your smart phone and uses built-in speakers, a voice assistant, Google maps, and sensors that warn about obstacles over chest level by sending vibrations. It's also partnering with ride share apps and major mass transportation apps. “As a blind person, when I am at the Metro station, I don’t know which is my exit … or which bus is approaching,” Ceylan explains. “That kind of information can be provided with the WeWalk.”
Of course he wanted to help blind people all over the world so he founded a new non profit company Young Guru Academy, to manufacture and distribute these canes.
There's an estimated 10 million blind people in America so this may be a game changer for them!
If someone you know would benefit from a smart cane you can get them here.