GlobalViewAid
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Context
With 50 million white cane users in the world, achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 10, aiming to reduce inequality within and among countries, is paramount. According to the World Health Organization, only one in ten visually impaired individuals who need assistive devices will get them. This critical shortage impedes their personal development, restricting autonomy, social engagement, and academic and professional prospects.
White canes alone cannot identify the safest path.
Challenge
Visually impaired individuals face significant challenges when navigating outdoors. While the traditional white cane provides some assistance, it is inadequate in detecting head-level and dynamic obstacles, which can pose a danger to users. Moreover, visually impaired individuals often rely on memorizing their routes. But in the ever-changing environment, marked by obstacles such as vehicles parked on sidewalks and construction sites, navigation is a complicated challenge.
Solution
Using a human-centred design approach that focuses on user needs, requirements and ergonomics, EssentialTech and its partners are developing an electronic travel aid system to complement the white cane by:
- Identifying the safest route to navigate around static and dynamic obstacles.
- Anticipating obstacles so the users can adapt their behavior.
The Global View Aid at First Glance
- Improve the mobility of visually impaired individuals.
- Prioritize user needs by supplementing traditional white canes.
- Allow users to detect static and moving obstacles above waist-height earlier than a cane.
- Promote the confidence and independence of visually impaired people.
- Foster self-development and active participation in community life.
credit main image : Adobestock
Nathalie holds an M.A. in Social Sciences. She has a rich background in humanitarian work and social impact projects, working with NGOs and international organizations. She has led diverse teams across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Balkans, Central America, and Switzerland, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and building cross-cultural partnerships to develop impactful solutions that advance societal progress. Her core areas of expertise include post-crisis recovery, gender-based violence, and forced migration.In her previous roles, Nathalie worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Geneva on anti-human trafficking interventions and served as an independent consultant specialising in strategic planning for humanitarian initiatives. She also contributed to socio-economic integration programs for refugees in Switzerland. Nathalie joined EssentialTech in 2021 as Head of Stakeholder relations and Fundraising before taking the Head of the Sustainable Development Division in 2023, Nathalie leads interdisciplinary innovation projects that strategically leverage technology to develop sustainable solutions for vulnerable communities. Her work focuses notably on improving access to essential health services, including neonatal care, oxygen therapy,and assistive devices, while empowering healthcare professionals and institutions in low-resource settings.
Holding an MSc in Electrical Engineering from EPFL, Matthieu has led projects focused on developing appropriate technologies and sustainable business models for the Global South. He has a strong background in technical training, technology transfer, and fostering collaborations between academia and industry. Fluent in French, English, and German, Matthieu brings expertise in managing multidisciplinary teams and creating impactful solutions in medtech.
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