Here's my $0.02 for what it's worth: Don't try to add things to the white cane that it doesn't need and shouldn't have.

Canes are simple, yes, but that's a feature, not a bug. They're a stick. They're meant to whack into things, splash through puddles, be dropped, scrape against the edge of a concrete curb, etc. We have to move them around a lot, so they need to be lightweight, and we go out in all kinds of weather. They also need to be cheap.

Don't go putting electronics into something like this. It's a bad idea. All kinds of people have tried it and it just doesn't work well enough to be widely adopted.

If you want something high tech, make a separate wearable device (although a lot of people have tried that as well, to varying degrees of success).

If you want to improve the white cane, then look at alternative materials for more lightweight canes, or materials that will better transfer tactile feedback, more durable tips, more comfortable grips, different styles/shapes of tips to prevent them getting caught on things, different tips for auditory feedback, more durable reflective coatings, more durable elastic cords, etc.

Let me give you some advice my friend

I am 100% sighted and have been subbed here for months. I just finished a semester long research project for my engineering school. If you haven’t reached out to a local facility that promotes those with visual impairment, I would highly recommend that. Talk to the people directly that would be your constituents. From my experience, the local NFB sponsored center was extremely helpful, and direct contact with them steered us in the right direction. Many sighted people make the same mistake of digging into the cane right away. I would recommend against it and find something you can implement that is not redundant technology. Best of luck

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