I'm an O&M instructor, so I teach how to use a white cane. I've tried out the ultracane before, and it does what it is suppose to do. There are two main drawbacks to it... the cost is rather high (I believe the website has the price currently listed at 635 pounds), although it used to be significantly higher. The other issue is, the range of the sensor. The lower sensor can sense further, but it is easy to miss small things like a thin pole. The high sensor has a shorter range, but depending on how you hold the cane, it may not have the full range (many people often hold a cane lower than expected).

That has generally been the problem with this sensing technology. They tried canes with laser sensors before, and the current technology is ultrasound. The costs have been high, and many people find it difficult to justify buying something that expensive when a regular white cane is good enough. I can think of situations where such a system may be worth it (the area they live in has a lot of long-hanging obstacles, or there are lots of obstacles in his regular path that the further range of the sensor would be useful), but most people don't find it necessary.

Aside from being expensive and not extremely useful, also consider that it adds weight to the cane (which can make it tiring to use over time, encourage sloppy form, etc.)

If you want object detection at eye level a much cheaper alternative that doesn't weigh the cane down would be something like [these glasses]
(https://ambutech.com/shop-online/iglasses%E2%84%A2-ultrasonic-mobility-aid) or the handheld units that are available.

If your friend is struggling with travel, expensive gadgets (aside from a good GPS app on his phone!) are probably not the best solution. Quality instruction in cane travel (O&M) is necessary if he is not currently receiving it. There are also some [summer training programs]
(http://cocenter.org/our-programs/summer-youth/) he could consider signing up for next summer.

Hi, you should try asking an ultracane user whether they are as good as they say they are! O&M Instructors teach people how to use a long cane and of course orientation skills, they have no idea how to use an ultracane and they certainly dont teach its use to people. With the ultracane, you dont walk into objects as you do with a standard long cane because it warns you about them as you are approaching them. The top sensor detects overhanging branches and things at the side of you that are shoulder/head height such as overgrown hedges. The vibration is very noticeable even when you are walking over rough ground, because as with any cane you will still get vibrations coming up the cane if its rough, but the intensity of the vibration is very noticeable. Its also has a very quick response and I am a fast walker! The reason the handle is big is because the sensors are quite large and I was told that the reason is because the bigger the sensor, the more accurate the detection. Small sensors similar to the ones used in the glasses you mention are very small and so you dont get as accurate a detection of the obstacle. The glasses will tell you that there is something ahead but by the time you have moved your head backwards and forwards to try to find it, the ultracane could have got you straight passed it and you are on your way again. The company has been servicing my ultracane for free for the past five years. I would not be without it that is for sure. It makes for a more confident travel and I often go further than my standard route.

Personally I think these kinds of devices are silly. If the person in question is having trouble with low hanging objects, such as tree branches, they should look into sharpening their ecco location. This skill will not catch every thing, but it can be an extra tool that is very handy.