· Rwanda has commenced distribution of the smart white stick developed by a young Rwandan innovator Amani Niyoyita.
· It is the first Made-in-Rwanda high-tech white canes that help visually impaired people to detect the obstacles on their way.
· It uses advanced technology with sensors that can detect obstacles from long distances to visually impaired people.
Rwanda has commenced distribution of the smart white stick developed by a young Rwandan innovator Amani Niyoyita. It is the first Made-in-Rwanda high-tech white canes that help visually impaired people to detect the obstacles on their way. It uses advanced technology with sensors that can detect obstacles from long distances to visually impaired people. According to available statistics, Rwanda has about 400,000 visually impaired people.
This is the first high-tech white cane is made in Rwanda using ultrasonic ranging technology that can detect obstacles at a distance of 1.2 meters and alert the user through vibrations and sounds. The smart white stick, Amani Niyoyita said also helps to detect if it is night or day which will facilitate the user’s interaction with others. At night the cane turns blue and red to help the visibility of the user. The insulator provided protection in case they touch electric wires.
The product is he said, easy to operate, can be used on public transport or cars, light to carry, and waterproof. Because it has GPS, one can track where they are located making it theft-proof. It can produce audible and vibrant sounds to attract the attention to the user. For people with multiple disabilities- deaf-blind, the stick is fitted with vibration capability. It can be charged by using a normal phone charger and can be used for five days at a stretch after charging.
