Exciting new tech for people with low-vision, blindness

WEWALK Courtesy WeWalk When it comes to aiding blind people, the use of a white cane (or probing cane) is invaluable for navigating through the world. The taps provide information, helping

the person detect obstacles, know when they've hit a curb or come to stairs, or that someone is standing in front of them. You might say that WeWALK, an innovative smart cane with a

touch pad and speaker, does the white cane one better. First, through the use of ultrasound, WeWALK can detect obstacles that are above chest level — such as tree branches, telephone poles

and traffic signs — and alert the user by sending out a vibration. Secondly, it's efficient. "Today, most every person with a white cane is also using GPS navigation on their

phone,” notes Roberts. But juggling a white cane in one hand while using a smartphone in the other can be tricky. The WeWALK smart cane can wirelessly connect to the smartphone, so users can

keep the phone in a pocket while walking, leaving one hand free — and allowing them to devote full attention to what's going on around them. And users can employ the cane's touch

pad to access an array of features. For example, WeWALK can connect with public transportation. “If you're walking to a bus stop,” says Roberts, “it'll tell you the number of the

bus that's coming, as well as when it's coming.” COST: $599 for 51-, 54- or 59-inch cane WHERE TO BUY: The WeWALK smart cane runs on Android and iOS-based mobile phones. It

features a micro USB input that can be used to charge the battery, with one full charge lasting up to five hours of usage time, which means a few days' usage. You can buy the smart cane

on wewalk.io or thelowvisionshop.com.  Courtesy: eSight Eyewear ESIGHT At first glance, eSight's sleek, wraparound headset looks like something straight out of _Star Trek: The Next

Generation_. (Note to non-Trekkies: google “Geordi La Forge.") But this nifty device is actually a special kind of electronic eyeglasses that can provide enhanced vision for people who

are legally blind or those with low vision. Some people have seen their visual acuity go from 20/600 to 20/20. The premise: Although portions of their eyes are damaged or not working, those

who are legally blind do retain limited sight, often concentrated in their peripheral vision. eSight heightens the function of the parts of the eye that are still working to compensate for

the parts that aren't. The head-mounted display houses a small camera that captures everything the wearer is looking at in live video footage. The device's algorithms enhance the

footage before displaying it on two high-resolution screens, in real time. Through eSight's remote control, a built-in trackpad on the side of the headset, you can make adjustments (a

boost in brightness, higher contrast, or increased sharpness) to enhance the quality of the image you're seeing. Users can autofocus on all distances: short (read the latest paperback

or restaurant menu); medium (scan your computer screen); or far (get a good view of the concert stage). One feature, the “biopic tilt,” lets users adjust the device, flipping it up or down

to move between enhanced and “natural” vision (to make eye contact). The device also allows you to tap into the display of your smartphone, so you can stream content from your phone or TV

directly to the screen in front of your eyes. What's more, says Roberts, “If your son or daughter has taken pictures of the grandkids, they can send it to your glasses."