Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!ogicse!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!wtm
From: SRCLARK@COLOSPGS.BITNET (STEVE CLARK)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Sonic Cane
Message-ID: <10448@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 1 Mar 90 02:51:12 GMT
Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP
Reply-To: SRCLARK@COLOSPGS.BITNET (STEVE CLARK)
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Index Number: 7001

Ann,
        Thanks for your guidance. There is absolutely no reason a sonic cane
has to be expensive. The technology is well developed and already on the
market. The other day I bought an ultrasonic tape measure for about $12.00.
Cameras using the same technology are also inexpensive.
        I have designed a prototype 'sonic cane', but haven't had the time to
debug it. In actual cost we are talking tens of dollars, not hundreds. I think
this competes very well with existing *hard* canes.
        I am a starving engineering student, so in depth study of this project
is ruled out. However, with letters of encouragement I may be able to get
government research grants to investigate further. I would like to offer
evaluation samples free of charge. This echo may be a source of these letters
and a source of prospective users, but you are the only one to reply so far.
I would really like to hear what others have to say.
        In any case I will continue to plug along. I think the concept is sound
and promising. When I get back in the 'mainstream' (which is soon), I would be
glad to fund the prototype phase of this project myself, so I ask anyone who
is interested in helping with the evaluation process of this project to reply
now or asap.
                                                        Steve