How a community of doers turned a fundraiser into forward motion for vision-first accessibility

TL;DR

Behind the scenes, Hearsee Mobility is building the next generation of smart canes—integrating GPS more tightly, boosting indoor reliability, and syncing seamlessly with our RFID tag system.

The goal: real-time voice guidance and precision feedback for blind and low-vision users. Smarter, more responsive, and shaped by community insight—this evolution of the Hearsee cane is a leap toward seamless navigation for everyone.

What’s happening (and why it matters)

Assistive technology often asks users to adapt to the tool. We’re flipping that: designing tools that adapt to the user.

Our new cane prototypes are focused on:

• Stronger GPS integration for outdoor accuracy.

• Indoor precision with RFID tag pairing.

• Real-time voice guidance that feels natural, not robotic.

• Durability + affordability, because access shouldn’t be a luxury.

This work isn’t happening in isolation. It’s driven by community testing, feedback, and iteration. Every design decision runs through one filter: does this make navigation easier, safer, and more intuitive?

Highlights shaping the next generation

Seamless RFID + GPS pairing

Outdoor navigation flows into indoor guidance—no disconnects, no extra devices.

Voice-first feedback

The cane delivers clear, responsive instructions without overwhelming the user.

Built for real life

Prototypes are tested in schools, transit hubs, and public buildings—not just labs—so design reflects real-world complexity.

Community-driven design

Users shape every stage of development, ensuring the cane reflects lived expertise, not assumptions.

What we’re achieving—together

• Sharper reliability. Precision indoors and outdoors in one integrated tool.

• Simpler workflows. Fewer devices to juggle, one smarter cane.

• Shared ownership. Blind and low-vision testers directly influence features, fixes, and priorities.

Gratitude where it’s due

To our early testers: your insights are gold. To our engineering team: thanks for pushing past “good enough.” And to our partners and advocates: you’re proving that innovation + inclusion = real change.

What’s next

Prototype testing continues, with expanded pilots in community spaces coming soon.

If you’re a user, educator, transit planner, or accessibility advocate—we’d love your input. Together, we can make vision-first navigation not just possible, but practical.

Partner with Hearsee: Join our pilot programs and test canes in real-world settings
Donate: Support research, materials, and user testing
Stay in the loop: Get updates on prototypes, pilots, and release timelines

👉 Ready to move? Contact Us