This amazing wristband could give the visually impaired a 'sixth sense'

The Sunu wristband uses echolocation to notify the wearer of nearby objects

The Sunu wristband.

A new smart wristband aims to give the visually impaired a "sixth sense" to help them move around, said Peter Holley at The Washington Post. Some 7 million Americans live with a visual disability, and most rely on canes or guide dogs to help them navigate hazards. The Sunu wristband uses echolocation to notify the wearer of nearby objects. The device "emits a high-frequency sound wave that bounces off objects as far as 14 feet" away and then registers the objects' location with a gentle, pulsing vibration on the wearer's wrist.

(Image credit: Courtesy image)

"The closer the object is — whether it's a wall, trash can, or person — the more frequent the pulses become." Settings such as pulse sensitivity can be customized via an app. Developers hope to connect Sunu to mapping apps, allowing users to receive information about their immediate location.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us