Looking like a cousin of Nintendo's Wiimote, the Tactile Wand is actually a 'smart' wand designed to replace the traditional long stick used by the visually impaired. Created by Jin Woo Han, the Wand utilizes a sensor on the front to detect nearby objects and provides feedback about how far away they are with varying levels of vibration. The wand includes a tactile strip where you place your thumb that will actually indicate the position of objects around you.
Add this to our list of the top innovations for the blind:
Tactile Wand is the New Blind Stick
The Cand Gets Wiimoted
Trend Themes
1. Smart Wand for the Visually Impaired - The development of more innovative and technology-driven solutions to aid the blind and visually impaired community.
2. Tactile Sensors for Navigation Assistance - The integration of tactile sensors in navigational aids to enhance user experiences and improve accessibility
3. Haptic Feedback Technology - The advancement of haptic feedback technology for sensory substitution or augmentation purposes in the healthcare industry.
Industry Implications
1. Assistive Technologies - Opportunities for assistive technology startups to design and develop innovative solutions to assist blind and visually impaired people.
2. Healthtech - The medical industry has an opportunity to integrate haptic feedback technology into the healthcare industry for sensory substitution or augmentation purposes.
3. Gaming & Entertainment - Potential for the adaptation of tactile wand technology for the gaming industry as a replacement for traditional controllers, enhancing user experiences and accessibility.