Walking stick with GPS, detection sensor invented by college students

Four computer engineering students created a walking stick with upgraded features such as GPS and detection sensor to help visually impaired individuals. 

In 24 Oras' Game Changer feature by Martin Javier on Friday, an Arduino-based innovation was made by computer engineering students from STI College Ortigas-Cainta.

The inventors are Harold Aldaba, John Patrick Mendros, Herault Aguirre and John Christian Marquez said they aim to help visually impaired individuals. 

"Nakatira po ako sa Antipolo. Doon po sa bayan marami pong blind massage therapists. So, nainspire po ako sa kanila dahil despite their disability they wanted to work still so ayun yung naging basis nung tungkod namin," said Aldaba. 

(I live in Antipolo. There are many blind masseurs in town. So, I was inspired by them because despite their disability they wanted to work still so that was the basis of our walking stick.) 

"Meron siyang tatlong objectives na mas makakatulong sa mga bulag lalo na po sa mga nagta-trabaho," said Mendros. 

(It has three objectives that will help the blind, especially those who work.) 

This includes the obstacle detection sensor with a real time alert for the user in case they hit something on the road.

There is also an attached GPS technology that can be used by the user's relative to determine his location. They said some visually impaired massage therapists made a great contribution to the research and development of the project.

Since the massage therapists who are the main beneficiaries of this prototype are visually impaired, they are also programmed into the project-- the bill identifier acceptor device. It determines the Philippine peso bills from customers to avoid fraud.

"Lahat ng ginamit naming components for each objective ni-research po namin nang mabuti ‘yan para in the future walang problema yung user," said Aguirre. 

(We researched all the components we used for each objective carefully so that in the future the user will have no problem.) 

"Nag-beta testing po kami sa may Antipolo, doon po sa mga massage workers…so they were happy about it," Marquez said. 

(We conducted a beta testing in Antipolo where the massage workers are.) —Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News