Article in WAB Mag Spring 2008
Casceta McKnight, Receptionist, WAB

I have been using the Ultracane for over 3 years now and although I am registered blind, I have sufficient close up vision to bluff my way around independently.

Compared to the old plain white sticks that did not even fold up, or have a comfortable hand grip, I passionately embrace the Ultracane. It not only folds up into four sections, but has very useful sonic detectors.

However, I do feel improvements could be made to make the visually impaired person more independently confident when out and about.

The Ultracane could do with a carry case, because on the odd occasion my cane has fallen onto the hard ground and the battery compartment has opened leaving the batteries to roll away. This left me in an impossible situation.

Screw tips would be more helpful, the reasons being:
Some form of heat is used to put on the present form of tips so that they stay on firmly when one is travelling over uneven ground such as farmland. In this situation the large roller tip ball is the most user friendly, for it will glide more evenly over the rough ground. But using this large roller tip ball on the High Street may give the individual user unnecessary information and so add to confusion.

Now imagine standing in the middle of the High Street wishing to change the tip but finding it difficult to remove from the end of the cane because it has been put on with heat. It will also need heat to remove it. This is an impossibility!

How is someone expected to change the tip when she may need to do so in the middle of town?

A compartment in the carry bag would also be useful to carry all three tips; this includes the pencil tip, which many visually impaired people still prefer.

A client with small hands would find the sensors needed to be closer together, as they do not always pick up an all round reading. It is also difficult to use the sensors when wearing gloves, as there is partial loss of sensitivity.

On a few occasions, when I have carried the Ultracane folded up, I have been asked, ‘What type of weapon is that, and how does it work?’ Could its appearance be made to look more attractive, by having less bulk on the handles?
The actual length of the cane needs to be accurately adjusted to the client’s height and length of pace. Without such adjustment, the sensors often give premature or late notification of obstacles.