The prototype Smart White Cane developed by Kyocera makes use of wireless transmission technology.
Railway operators have been placing platform doors to prevent blind and visually impaired passengers from falling onto the tracks or colliding with moving trains. But not all stations can be fitted with these doors.
Kyocera launched the visually impaired pedestrian support system on February 12, at the co-creation space Creative Fab located on the first floor of the company’s Minato Mirai Research Center, which will support blind and visually impaired people to walk safely at station platforms and other places.
When the cane scans electronic tags attached to embossed blocks on the station platforms, or on the train cars, it warns the user with vibrations along with an audible message.
The company installed Smart White Cane, which combines its proprietary technology RFID and vibration and voice information transmission technology, with passive RF tags at the station platform and at the junction of trains. When “Smart White Cane” enters the reception area of the tag, a mechanism has been developed to notify pedestrians of danger through tactile transmission technology.
The company hopes to put the system into practical use within three years.
