Users Manual Part 1

HOLDING AND USING THE WeWALK SMART CANE
WeWALK should be held and used using regular cane technique and is not a replacement
for good cane technique. WeWALK should be held in the ‘handshake’ hand position with
the rounder part of the device sitting in the palm of the hand, and the thumb resting on
the tactile buttons on top of the device. The tactile buttons, touchpad, and ultrasonic
sensor should face forward and always be on top.
The traditional white cane is used
by moving the cane from side to
side in a tapping or sliding motion
where the next footstep will fall.
This ensures that obstacles can be
detected in the user’s immediate
vicinity by utilizing the tip of
the cane to touch the obstacle.
Additional obstacle detection is
obtained via the ultrasonic sensors
incorporated into the handle, thus
giving more advanced warning to
the user of obstacles in their path
and between head and waist level.
WeWALK is designed to detect
the obstacles between your head
and waist level, so the obstacles in
this range should be detected at a
distance of at least 1 meter before
hitting the obstacle. For example,
a low-hanging sign is at a height of
170 cm and the user is 175 cm tall,
so they might hit the obstacle. The
green area indicates the detection
area, at these distances the Smart
Cane vibrates and warns the user
about the obstacle.
When using WeWALK, it is imperative to use traditional white cane skills especially for
locating drops such as curbs and steps, or tactile paving. Before you start using WeWALK,
experiment with the various obstacle detection range options to find out the limits and
capabilities of the product. Choose the length of the white cane according to your height.
WALKING WITH WEWALK
When your WeWALK gives you an obstacle warning during normal use, you can gently
swipe your device to the left and right to detect exactly where the obstacle is located, how
wide the obstacle is and where the obstacle stops blocking your path. When you move
your WeWALK to the right and left, you can perceive the objects that are in front of you
and you can confirm the accuracy of the obstacle detection signal.
In the unlikely event that WeWALK’s electronics fail while you are out, you will still be able
to use it as a traditional white cane to reach your destination.
45˚
100cm
175 cm
170 cm