Members of the visually impaired community may find some relief with the invention of “Smart Sticks” by students from Regina Pacis Secondary School in Onitsha, Anambra State. The school has gained recognition for fostering innovative ideas among its students.
Previously, they developed a mobile application called the Fake Drug (FD) detector to combat counterfeit pharmaceutical products in Nigeria. Their latest achievement involves the creation of smart sticks that facilitate easy navigation by detecting obstacles at least 120 centimeters away from a blind person.
According to Pulse, during the launch event on May 10, 2023, Chibuzor Obierika, the Youth Coordinator of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB) in Anambra State, stated that the smart sticks underwent improvements since their initial test. They can now sense obstacles from various angles, including elevation and depression, thanks to the input ultrasonic sensor integrated into their design.
Visually impaired individuals present at the event reviewed the Smart Sticks and expressed their joy and appreciation for this innovative solution. One member of the blind community emphasized the significance of these Smart Sticks, highlighting how they contribute to fostering independence and disproving the notion that visually impaired individuals cannot actively contribute to societal development.
