This $600 "Smart Cane" for the Blind is NOT Smart | WeWalk Smart Cane

The WeWalk "smart cane" for the blind uses sensors to make for a high-tech assistive device for navigation... But are any of these technologies actually helpful to people with vision impairment, or is the $600 WeWalk undeserving of the hype?
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Disclaimer:
None of the information in this video is meant to be taken as professional or medical advice. Please consult a doctor or your social service worker if you have an eye condition, or are considering any form of treatment, including surgery, medication, or disability services.
#JoshTseng #disability #WeWalk #Blind #accessibility #inclusion

[@JoshTseng]

PSA: This video isn't meant to bash on the WeWalk cane. It's my honest review of my experience using the device and reflects my genuine opinion of the product. I hope to see WeWalk's future products improve on what they already have. Having better assistive devices is obviously something I care deeply about. Some notes I didn't get to cover in the video: • WeWalk also offers GPS navigation via its smartphone app, which I briefly mentioned in the intro. However, I wanted this video to focus solely on the WeWalk stand-alone device, which is why I didn't elaborate on it later. • The WeWalk can also be fitted on different canes, and there is a version of it online which is sold attached to Ambutech canes for USD $700. However, this video solely focused on the version available through WeWalk's website, which is the version most people would be looking to purchase. I'll edit this pinned comments with any future notes if needed. Thanks for watching and for your support!

[@yanasosnovskaya864]

This review is very helpful for developers as well. I just joined the company that also doing an assistive device for blind and low vision people. We also have CEO who is blind person, but I can imagine that different people would prefer different features for smart devices. And it requires to have a focus group for testing the device.

[@chrishlkhoo]

Hope the manufacturer takes the feedback and improve. Thanks Josh.

[@samanthamassimino7400]

Thanks for this honest review Josh. It is very helpful.

[@redeemedsinner8091]

You just confirmed what I thought from the very start. This stick is NOT worth $600. In fact, it's not even worth $100. What garbage! I think it is a crying shame that our reckless U.S. government spent $6,200,000,000,000 to fund the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars, but the government does nothing to help blind people. I am disgusted that our government hasn't spent money to design a high quality intelligent smart stick for blind people. They have the money and the resources to make this happen. Why don't they care? The government should subsidize the cost for blind people, to help them. I don't want trillions of dollars of my tax money being given away to Israel, Jordan and other foreign countries. Charity should start at home.

[@Creepyexplorers]

Thank you for this my son is a famous musician and software engineer blind from birth we are always looking for new products that are good however the original cane with roller is the best

[@JoshTseng]

Agreed. Sometimes, the simple things just work the best. Amazing to hear about your son!

[@splashesin8]

These were a lot of my thoughts hearing about it on another unboxing of sorts. I could just hear the awkwardness to wield. I prefer the lightness and simplicity of the sturdier plain navigation cane myself. I could understand wanting something that maybe incorporates your mobile phone with all it can do into the cane itself to not have to carry yet another separate object, but it seems so easy to stumble with or end up juggling and dropping in the middle of a very involved intersection crossing. It would be even sadder for that expensive of an object of accessible electronic tools to get destroyed in a crossing where you had to let it go to avoid getting run over or hit by a car yourself.

[@JoshTseng]

Totally agree! I also have nothing against new technologies being used to explore better ways to help the vision impaired, but I felt like I had to be brutally straightforward in the video because I don't want people to think technology like this can solve all the problems of people like us. It's too expensive, over-engineered, and doesn't address a lot of the underlying problems that affect the vision impaired community. It's "innovative" and flashy, but sadly not revolutionary enough.

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Great video! Love it! Great job on the video and I would love to see you review STRAP!

[@JoshTseng]

Thanks, and glad you enjoyed the video! That's a good reminder actually, I think we have trial devices for STRAP's tech where I live, I'll make an inquiry and see if I can showcase it in a video some time this year.

[@ShouldBeKnown]

Good review!

[@JoshTseng]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed

[@melissayeo2227]

Thanks for the sharing. This is useful. Hope you get to review more assistive device like OrCam

[@JoshTseng]

Yes definitely will be visiting SG Enable’s assistive tech library again for more devices. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@BushLieWorldDie]

The cane needs more work its really buggy . It needs more sensors at different hights.

[@Blindbaddie]

Love your honesty

[@pancakewalrus99]

I totally Agee. I find this product to be extremely frustrating to work with. I am not visually impaired but my role is to do product research and share it with my team

[@jazzminelizabeth]

Do you always walk that fast? I have never seen a blind person walk that fast.

[@jrmiyazaki06]

He's only talking bad about the product

[@lollylewis-lh3ut]

$1,300 here in Australia Ha Ha Ha

[@JoshTseng]

Oh my god... What is going on with the pricing there? 😱

[@lollylewis-lh3ut]

@@JoshTseng we paywe always pay double ypu price! Orcam and other Smart glasses are all over $5,000 lol so we refuse to buy a dud wewalk until it is fixed and perfect

[@georgieboy9101]

People, use the O and M skills your were taught. Blind folk these days are relying too much on gadgets that rarely live up to the hipe.

[@robbycooper6787]

I Don't need this

[@stuartduncan2772]

Good review. Poor product. This technology is not new so I can't see how they justify the very high price. Not for me.