As it may seem that smartphones and
tablets are getting the majority of the technological innovations
these days, many of the arguably more important developments often
tend to be left in the dark. Indeed, it was not
too long ago that Fujitsu showed off a prototype of a high-tech
walking stick. Dubbed the Next Generation Cane, the stick packs
things like WiFi, a GPS, and Bluetooth support, among other things,
into its glossy black handle – a handle that also doubles as a
bright dot matrix screen.
Image source: Cnet
The main idea was to build a cane that
allows loved ones to keep an eye on their ageing parents, and one way
the resulting device does this is by acting as a mutually-controlled
GPS device. If a senior wanted to go to, for example, the convenience
store, one would first use the cane’s navigation software on a PC to
plot the route, using an interface that looks an awful lot like
Google Maps. The cane then displays large arrows on its own screen
directing the senior towards the store. The LED dots that make up the
screen are large, making it easily legible for aged eyesight.
Image source: Cnet
More interestingly, the Next Generation
Cane constantly beams its current location back to “mission
control” while walking. Perhaps if the convenience store is closed,
the route can be edited on the walk. Meanwhile, a step counter (which
monitors how many time the cane is tapped against the ground),
temperature sensor, and humidity sensor make it easy to watch for
trouble. There is a heart rate monitor, too – simply press your
thumb on part of the handle, and a number will appear on the screen.
To wrap it all up, heart rate and other data can be recorded for
sharing with doctors and health professionals.
Image source: Cnet
While all of the above’s all well and
good, there’s still some room for improvement. Maybe some sort of
camera on the front, a solar panel instead of batteries for power,
and a voice relay feature – I’m sure it would ease the minds of
seniors by being able to hear and converse with their loved one(s)
whilst on a trip. Then again, the Next Generation Cane is still in
development. Perhaps we will see such features in a newer prototype,
or in the final version – It just remains to be seen when that
final version will come available to the public for purchase or rent.
