The more I learn about Glidance, a system that purports to replace the cane, the more it seems to have taken all the criticisms of "smart canes" into account. It might be the first genuine high-tech navigation aid that could be beneficial, replacing the cane in most circumstances. I'm usually highly skeptical about these things because people just havent thought through the implications including ergonomics, weather conditions, etc
Continuing this thread about Glidance/Glide.
Based on the demo on their site + FAQs + the recent interview, here are some questions that seem to have been answered.
1. The design takes into account rainy weather. It will work on rainy streets. No answer about snow yet.
2. The timeline is longer than I anticipated. Beta tests are happening this year and release will happen in 2025.
3. Preorders wil start this year to gage demand and satisfy funders.
There's a little more clarity on pricing.
4. The current thinking is that there will be different packages for different usage at different price points. For people who have recently lost their site or possibly have difficulty navigating streets, there might be different features; and there might be different features for those of us who are jet setters with frequent travelers to airports and hotels.
5. Answering the question that someone asked on this thread, the system will not limit you to maps that Glidance creates. In fact, they will not create their own maps app. They will rely on Google Maps, Soundscape, etc. In other words, it will be your choice.
This is a good sign for me as it appears to be a philosophy that I can get behind. It also indicates that the platform will not be limited to iOS.
Continuing the Glidance thread. Turns out I forgot to add a bit of detail from the Doubletap interview.
6. In the current iteration, the the product is about 2.5 KG. So far people have described it as resembling an upright vacuum cleaner that can be collapsed. So it's not the lightest product. But, not bad.
7. It will have the capability of contacting someone for remote assistance.
I'm speculating here. Perhaps a partnership with Aira?
@ppatel it's an interesting system but with its current design I can see certain issues with its use in rural and remote areas. A clever design don't get me wrong especially in how and where they have integrated all the sensors.
@davidv Yes. I've considered rural usage. That's why I said most circumstances. I want to know how well it would work in snow as well. What would happen to all the electronics during heavy rain? I'm going to try to collaborate with this company to see if those issues could be resolved. Not all the marketing material gives details. I have a call scheduled with them.
@ppatel yes snow and dirt / gravel / dust I can see won't be very friendly to this device. Look forward to hearing how your collaboration goes. Reach out if you need any other input.
@ppatel I don't see how this is different to the billion other similar things, apart from that a blind person invented it.
@KaraLG84 Because none of the other systems have started with the tip of a cane, which is the most important part of the cane experience. This one does.
@jakobrosin @KaraLG84 That's certainly a question I intend to ask. Then again, I'm never without a backup cane when I'm going somewhere. I've had several incidents when the backup cane became necessary.
@jakobrosin @KaraLG84 I realize that not everyone is as paranoid as I am or haven't had the experiences of breaking canes while traveling. So lack of battery is a legitimate concern.
@ppatel @jakobrosin @KaraLG84 The fact that it was designed by a blind person gives me some hope.
@ysotomayor @ppatel @jakobrosin @KaraLG84 lol I remember this website working for me when I checked last week but it won't load for me now. How far along are they, actually?
I was browsing through the csun exhibitors and remember that some devices there really just had a youtube video and a lot of words, but no way to actually experience the product yet, and I forget if this one was one of them
@zersiax @ysotomayor @jakobrosin @KaraLG84 They've got prototypes and beta testing coming before summer from what they say.
@ppatel @ysotomayor @jakobrosin @KaraLG84 Huh. I have never actually tried any of these, I got a WeWalk yesterday to try out, because it seems to do a lot of what I tend to do with a phone anyway. I don't care much about the obstacle detection but the integration with GPS and transport schedules is a nice touch. thats the kind of thing I'd normally need to hold a phone for, so it takes stuff out of my hands. Just not sure how well it actually works yet and if its still being updated
@zersiax @ysotomayor @jakobrosin @KaraLG84 Their FAQs, if you haven't seen them, seems to answer quite a few of the questions I have. Lot still remain.
@ppatel @ysotomayor @jakobrosin @KaraLG84 yep, I skimmed through those :)
@zersiax @KaraLG84 The WeWalk seems to be an iteration of couple of others I've seen on the market but not much more. This one, at least, is engineered differently. I wanted to try the ARA device. They ended up making it too expensive. I just couldn't justify the cost. BTW, the web site is working. now.
@ppatel @KaraLG84 I kinda hope they will allow using third-party routing providers somehow. e.g., what I like about the WeWalk is that it uses Google Maps and Moovit so even if WeWalk's parent company falls over, as long as the APIs don't change, most features should work in most places because how how common these services are. their language of "proprogramming" a route to me sounds like you need to manually record a route first which I don't love
@ppatel I recorded an interview with their CEO recently. It was an interesting philosophical discussion and he’s clearly a thinker. It should be out in the next couple of weeks.
@JonathanMosen I look forward to listening to it. I met Amos Miller a couple of times when he was working at Microsoft. I very much enjoyed your interview with Dean Blazie by the way. thank you for an excellent interview.
@ppatel Thanks very much.
@ppatel This is pretty cool, but I bet its not going to be cheap to get. A thing like this has to cost like at least 3K.
@gocu54 I doubt it. That would put it out of range of most people. I suspect some kind of a subscription model subsidizing the hardware.
@ppatel Now that's an interesting idea. I'd try it out, but use it as my main driver? I don't know. I've used a cane all my life.
@Pawpower @gocu54 Well, if Phoenix lets you, I'd love to hear what you think of it. It might be an interesting emergency solution for you. The audio part will pretty much be useless in most circumstances. I'm going to talk to them about how they use haptics since there are haptic pads on the handle.
@ppatel Oh wow! This is really interesting, I'll definitely have to keep my eye on this one!
@ppatel what about in snow
@jstark A question that has yet to be answered.
@vick21 @Tamasg From all I've seen, the team is taking a very thoughtful approach to the design and implementation of various features. I'd like to see them succeed. I know many blind people who will never be good with guide dogs but can use them. For variety of reasons, they will also not be good cane travelers. This product is going to be positioned in that middle spot for those people.
@sapphireangel @Tamasg I suspect they'll be out there demostrating at conventions and such. I'll be eager to get first-hand demos and discussions from people who have access to beta units. I hope to be one of these people, BTW.
@ppatel The thing I haven't seen discussed, and the weight would matter for that: what about steps and stairs?
@sbourne It detects stairs and is designed to easily go up and down them. It can detect railings and indicate that fact to the user.
@ppatel Aha! It's definitely something I would want to test for myself (if I needed it.) The demo videos I saw had stairs in the background, but nobody went up them!
@sbourne Going down isn't as much of a challenge as going up the stairs is. I'll be eager to see this particular feature/design in action.
@ppatel I kinda like something that combines both. I am a less confident Street crosser for example as a Cain user compared to when I had a dog, but I also want to be able to do the jet setting and getting around hotels and other large building part more easily, as I’m doing more traveling for my job. I don’t have quite enough consistent work for a dog anymore as about 60% of my work is remote, but something like this could be a perfect solution for me.
@ppatel I'm interested to check this out at CSUN. Depending on my state of vertiginousness I may or may not be able to walk with it really thats up to Phoenix because it's already going to be stressful for her so if she tells me no then I'm going to respect that but I'm hoping to at least look at it. I can't use it myself because I need the dog for balance but I'd love to see it for sure.
@Pawpower For you, it might be a nice supplimentary device. I can see using it along with your guide dog. It does take up another one of your hands though.
@ppatel Right and the hand I would use is the spastic hand and often vibratory feedback triggers spasticity, soooooo this may not be usable for me if I can't continuously hold the thing haha. But I def am open to looking at it. It's one of the reasons I was hoping to love Sunu band. I can wear it and not hold it. But alas...
@Pawpower One of the good things about this company is that they're taking active feedback and incorporating it into their design. Perhaps they'd be willing to work with you to see if it could be designed in such a way that doesn't require you to hold the handle. Some kind of strap? Interesting design challenge.
@ppatel Yup it's one of the things I want to talk to them about, like if they're planning to make one mounted on a walker, really that could be revolutionary for a population who has been really overlooked when it comes to mobility, blind walker/wc users. If I didn't have a dog I'd have a walker and I think this could be easily modified for one.
@ppatel would really like to try this thing. It sounds pretty cool.
@ppatel @douglawlor I agre. I was on an intro call with them and I was impressed with the approach. Would love to see a proof of concept though. I have some concerns from a practicality standpoint, but I do love the way they're approaching this.
@SteveSawczyn @douglawlor It looks like they're listening. So it's good to have those concerns addressed early on. Let me know what they are and I'm happy to convey them for you. It also seems like they'll listen to you directly.
@ppatel @douglawlor I agree. One thing that helps in this situation is that the creator is blind himself.
@ChrisChaffin @ppatel That was one of the first things that intrigued me about this. A blind creator gives a product like this that much more credibility.