Proposal for a Versatile Smart White Cane Infrastructure Using a 3D Printer: As a R&D Platform and a Practical Product Design

The white cane, an indispensable aid for the visually impaired, has also attracted considerable attention in terms of assistive technology. Research focusing on the white cane from an assistive technology perspective includes proposals for Smart White Cane: proposals to add ICT to the white cane itself. On the other hand, it has been shown that the smart white cane is not fully anticipated by its intended users. Given these facts, the condition that the research and development of smart white canes must now take into account is the proposal and evaluation of new technologies and new functions in a way that does not adversely affect the characteristics of the conventional white cane in particular the foldable one. The author proposes a method to replace a part of the standard foldable white cane with devices that realize the smart white cane. In order to incorporate the smart white cane components without affecting the foldable white cane, the author proposes to fabricate parts using a 3D printer. The effectiveness of this approach was exemplified by using it to fabricate a product that encompasses the functionality of an existing lighting white cane.