Materials Testing in Long Cane Design: Sensitivity, Flexibility, and Transmission of Vibration

Different materials that are used in manufacturing long cane shafts were assessed for their ability to transmit vibration and their sensitivity to tactile information, flexibility, and durability. It was found that the less flexible a cane shaft is, the better it transmits vibrations that are useful for discriminating surface textures and that shafts with less weight transmit energy at higher natural frequencies. A combination of decreased flexibility and decreased weight in a cane appears to optimize the cane's usefulness in discriminating the characteristics of surfaces.