WeWalk, the creator of the innovative smart cane for the visually impaired, has raised over £2 million in funding to further develop its product and expand its reach to a wider global audience. The investment comes from several investors and business angels, including Manchester City football club and German footballer Ilkay Gundogan.
The WeWalk smart cane uses advanced technology to detect physical obstacles in the user's path and warn them through vibrations and sounds. It also integrates with a mobile app to provide turn-by-turn navigation, making it an invaluable tool for visually impaired people to move around independently and confidently. Time magazine named the WeWalk smart cane one of the "best inventions" of 2019.
With the fresh cash injection, WeWalk plans to bolster its product with intelligent computer vision technology developed in partnership with Imperial College London and the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB). The ultimate goal is to create a way that allows the smart cane to read traffic signs and recognize specific objects in its path. The company has already started work on the project, recruiting about 30 people to help build and test the required software and hardware.
WeWalk plans to have something ready to market by 2024, but the company is already testing camera and remote human assistance functionality on the WeWalk mobile app. In addition to the visually impaired, WeWalk also plans to support other populations by creating "adaptive mobility aids" such as walking sticks or frames for the elderly.
"We want to expand our business to reach a wider global audience and improve our technology to offer better, more meaningful information to visually impaired people, the elderly and anyone else with mobility issues," said WeWalk co-founder and CEO Göhan Merichliler in a statement.
The WeWalk smart cane is a revolutionary mobility aid that has the potential to transform the lives of visually impaired and elderly people. With the new funding and partnerships, WeWalk is well on its way to achieving its goal of creating a more accessible and inclusive world for everyone.
