Studying the Biomechanics of Using a Long Cane

Researcher: Robert Wall Emerson, Western Michigan University

Dr. Robert Wall Emerson, Associate Professor at Western Michigan University, is a researcher using the Optotrak Certus Motion Capture System to perform experiments on how visually impaired people use the long cane for mobility. Dr. Wall Emerson and team use the Optotrak Certus to track the biomechanical movements of practiced and novice cane users in order to better understand how their movements change as they become more practiced and how they move differently under different travel conditions.

In 2009, Dr. Wall Emerson was asked to participate as a consultant in the WiiCane project. The WiiCane project is a 24-month project being carried out by Touch Graphics, Inc. of New York City, under funding from United States Department of Eduction, Office of Special Education Programs. The WiiCane is "an accelerometer-based diagnostic and real-time feedback tool for therapeutic play in mobility training for blind and deaf-blind children." Dr. Wall Emerson was to provide a form of validity check on the new WiiCane device.

Members of the Touch Graphics team took their WiiCane prototype and visited Dr. Wall Emerson's lab at Western Michigan University to test the initial design. During data collection, the team found some design flaws and have since gone back and revamped it. The team may return to Dr. Wall Emerson's lab with the new design in the future if time permits.

For more information, see Optotrak Certus Motion Capture System and visit the Touch Graphics site.