JP2003093454A - Cane for vision-impaired person - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide safe walking or the like for a vision-impaired person by accurately detecting information and risk factors in the periphery of a vision- impaired person, notifying them to the vision-impaired person and providing data communication with the outside. SOLUTION: The cane 1 for the vision-impaired person is provided with an ultrasonic sensor 2, it detects peripheral obstacles, and it signals a warning to a user. Signaling of the warning is carried out by a predetermined output of warning speech, a predetermined warning sound such as an electronic sound, an operation of a vibrator, or the like. Also, it is composed so that a transmitting direction of an ultrasonic pulse from the ultrasonic sensor 2 can scan a periphery of the cane 1. The cane 1 for the vision-impaired person can measure a present position by a GPS means, and it has a function of navigating the user by speech in response to a measurement result. Anomaly information is sent to a predetermined communication target when an emergency call button is pressed or an anomaly is judged by monitoring a detection result from the ultrasonic sensor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cane for visually impaired persons, and more particularly to a cane useful for walking of visually impaired persons such as blind persons and visually impaired persons.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, a visually handicapped person carries a walking stick and moves. There are also visually impaired people who walk using guide dogs. A visually impaired person generally walks with a cane, but basically the visually impaired person recognizes obstacles within the reach of the cane due to vibrations and impacts transmitted from the cane. It was not possible to get a sense of security because I could not know the situation in the vicinity of the area that was out of reach. Moreover, even when walking while checking the ground surface with a cane, it was difficult to recognize obstacles protruding into the air, and it was insufficient to grasp all the surrounding conditions of the visually impaired.

[0003] Further, the trained guide dog works as a substitute for the eyes of the visually impaired person, has various safety confirmations and predicts dangers, and has the ability to safely support the visually impaired person's walking. However, when a visually impaired person wants to use a guide dog, there is a problem that the burden on the cost is great and the breeding management is required, so that it cannot be easily introduced like a cane.

[0004] Basically, the above-mentioned cane and guide dog for visually impaired persons assist the visually impaired person in walking,
It did not have a function to guide the route to the destination or an emergency call function.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and accurately detects information and risk factors around a visually impaired person and notifies them to the visually impaired person. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cane for the visually impaired, which enables the visually impaired to move safely such as walking by enabling the data communication.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is provided with at least detection means for detecting obstacles and the like, and warns a user such as a visually impaired person according to the detection result of the detection means. It is characterized by having an informing means for informing information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the cane for the visually impaired calculates a distance to an obstacle based on a detection result of the detecting means, and according to the distance of the obstacle. Based on a predetermined threshold value for issuing a warning notification, when the distance to the obstacle calculated by the detection means is determined to be shorter than the threshold value, the notification means notifies a warning to the user. It is a feature.

The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, an ultrasonic sensor is used as the detecting means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the ultrasonic sensor transmits an ultrasonic pulse and receives a return pulse by reflecting the transmitted pulse on an object such as an obstacle. The calculating means is characterized by calculating the distance to the obstacle by measuring the time from the wave transmission to the wave reception of the ultrasonic sensor.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third or fourth aspect of the invention, the cane for visually impaired person scans the ultrasonic waves in a direction parallel to and / or perpendicular to the long axis of the cane. It is characterized by having a sensor drive means for driving the ultrasonic sensor.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, when the sensor drive means scans in a direction parallel to the long axis direction of the cane for the visually impaired, the cane for the visually impaired. It is set not to transmit waves below the vertical direction to the long axis of, or to perform scanning in the range where the detected position of the ground is longer than the threshold value under normal conditions. It is characterized by being done.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, an image pickup information processing means for processing an image pickup element and an image pickup result of the image pickup element is used as the detection means.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the seventh aspect of the invention, the image pickup information processing means monitors data picked up by the image pickup device and detects obstacle data based on the obstacle data picked up. It is characterized in that when the distance is calculated and it is determined that there is an obstacle at a distance shorter than a predetermined threshold value, the warning means gives a warning.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the seventh or eighth aspect of the invention, the imaging information processing means analyzes an obstacle imaged by the image sensor, and the wand for the visually impaired is the visually impaired. A voice synthesizing means for synthesizing voice information for notifying the user of the walking stick for a person about the avoidance direction of the obstacle, and a voice output means for outputting the voice synthesized by the voice synthesizing means. It is a feature.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the notifying unit synthesizes the notifying voice to generate a voice signal, and a voice by the voice synthesizing unit. A voice output means for outputting a signal by voice is provided, and a warning is given to the user by voice.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the notifying means outputs a warning sound by a predetermined electronic sound or a physical vibration sound such as a buzzer. It is characterized by having.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the notifying means has a vibrator that causes a portion of the cane for the visually impaired to be gripped by a user to fibrillate. It is characterized in that a warning is given to the user by operating the vibrator.

The invention of claim 13 is based on claims 1 to 12.
In any one of the inventions, the wand for the visually impaired includes a wireless communication unit that enables wireless data communication with an external device, monitors a detection state by the detection unit, When an obstacle is detected at a short distance for a predetermined time or more, it is determined that something is abnormal, and the wireless communication means transmits an abnormal signal to a predetermined destination. is there.

The invention of claim 14 is based on claims 1 to 12.
In any one of the inventions, the notifying unit has a warning sound output unit that emits a predetermined warning sound, monitors a detection state of the detection unit, and detects an obstacle for a predetermined time within a distance shorter than the threshold value. When any of the above is detected, it is judged that something is abnormal, and the warning sound output means emits a warning sound to inform the surroundings of the abnormality.

The invention of claim 15 relates to claims 1 to 14.
In any one of the inventions, the wand for the visually impaired includes a wireless communication unit that enables wireless data communication with an external device, and an emergency call button used by a user in an emergency. When the emergency call button is pressed,
It is characterized in that the emergency call information is transmitted to a predetermined transmission destination using the wireless communication means.

[0021] The invention of claim 16 is based on claims 1 to 15.
In any one of the inventions, the wand for the visually impaired includes a wireless communication unit that enables wireless data communication with an external device, and an impact sensor, and receives an impact of a predetermined level abnormality. When the impact sensor is activated, the wireless communication means is used to transmit emergency call information to a predetermined destination.

The invention of claim 17 is based on claims 1 to 16.
In any one of the present inventions, an antenna, a current position measuring means for measuring the current position of the cane for the visually impaired on the basis of a signal for measuring the current position received through the antenna, and a user's request. In accordance with the above, there is provided means for synthesizing and outputting the measurement result by the present position measuring means.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the seventeenth aspect, the visually impaired walking stick recognizes voice input means and voice input to the voice input means to generate voice recognition data. Using the recognition means, the storage means for storing the map information, and the current position information measured by the current position measuring means and the map information stored in the storage means, navigation to the destination input by voice is performed. Navigation means, and when the destination is voice-input to the voice input means, the navigation means functions to execute the navigation to the destination by the means for synthesizing and outputting the voice. It is a feature.

The invention of claim 19 relates to claim 17 or 1.
In the invention of claim 8, the present position measuring means is GPS
It is characterized by using a positioning system based on (global positioning system).

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the present position measuring means is means for measuring the position by using the radio wave of the PHS base station.

[0026]

1 and 2 are views for explaining one embodiment of a cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention.
1 is a cane, 2 is an ultrasonic sensor, and u is an ultrasonic pulse.
The cane for the visually impaired of the present invention includes at least detection means for detecting an obstacle and the like, and has a function of notifying a user such as a visually impaired person of information according to the detection result of the detection means. It is characterized by. As the detecting means, for example, an ultrasonic sensor can be preferably used.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cane 1 according to the present invention has an ultrasonic sensor 2 at a predetermined position.
And the ultrasonic sensor 2 transmits an ultrasonic pulse u,
The return pulse resulting from the transmission pulse u being reflected by some obstacle or the like is received, the time from the transmission to the reception is measured, and the distance to the obstacle is calculated. With this function, the situation of obstacles around the cane 1 is grasped. Further, by shaking the transmitting direction of the ultrasonic sensor 2, it becomes possible to detect an obstacle or the like protruding in the air as shown in FIG. 2, for example.

The cane 1 for the visually impaired according to the present invention has an obstacle detecting function which operates by supplying power, and in another embodiment, in addition to the obstacle detecting function, a wireless communication function is provided. One or both of the GPS functions are added. Therefore, the cane is provided with a power switch for operating the above functions, and a user of the cane 1 such as a visually impaired person operates each function by turning on the power switch.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of the cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the cane 1 for the visually impaired is equipped with an ultrasonic sensor 2 as an obstacle detecting means for detecting obstacles and risk factors around it. The ultrasonic sensor 2 has a wave transmitting unit that transmits an ultrasonic pulse, and a wave receiving unit that receives a return pulse that is returned by the transmitted ultrasonic pulse colliding with some object and returning. ing. The control unit 3 uses the ultrasonic sensor 2
The distance from the ultrasonic sensor 2 to the target object is calculated based on the time from the transmission of the traveling wave pulse to the reception of the return pulse. The data storage unit 4 holds in advance data for converting the distance based on the time from the transmission of the ultrasonic pulse to the reception of the ultrasonic pulse. The calculation of the distance to the target object by such pulse transmission is continuously executed at a predetermined timing.

The control unit 3 monitors the distance to the target object, and when it determines that the distance of the target object becomes shorter than the threshold value according to a predetermined threshold value related to the distance, it notifies the visually impaired person by operating the notifying means. Notify the user of the cane that there is an object in the vicinity of the cane.
As the notification means, a notification sound can be synthesized by the sound synthesizing unit 6 and output from the sound output unit 7 such as a speaker, and a warning sound by a predetermined electronic sound or a physical vibration sound such as a buzzer is output as a warning sound. The alarm may be issued by the unit 8 or the vibrator 9 may be used to fibrillate the part held by the visually impaired person to notify the user. Further, an earphone or a headphone can be applied to the voice output unit 7.

Since the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic sensor 2 has a certain directivity, if the ultrasonic wave transmitting direction is fixed, it is not possible to detect the risk factors around the entire cane. . Therefore, in the present invention, the ultrasonic sensor 2 is configured to be swingable so that the direction of transmission of ultrasonic pulses scans around the cane. That is, the ultrasonic sensor 2 is installed so as to be capable of swinging, and the sensor drive unit 5 that causes the ultrasonic sensor to perform the swinging operation under the control of the controller 3 is provided. It is preferable that the scanning of ultrasonic waves be performed in a range of, for example, about 100 ° forward, which needs to be particularly monitored when a visually impaired person walks. If the scanning range is set excessively large, the user of the cane 1 may be detected by the ultrasonic sensor 2 and may be judged as an obstacle.

The scanning direction of ultrasonic waves by the ultrasonic sensor 2 is not limited to the one-dimensional direction around the cane 1, but
You may make it scan in a two-dimensional direction of up / down and right / left.
In this case, in the circumferential direction of the cane, the ultrasonic sensor 2 is rotated around the long axis of the cane for scanning, and the transmission angle of the ultrasonic sensor 2 is vertically swung in the vertical direction. Can be configured to. In the case of ultrasonic scanning in the up and down direction, if you send a wave toward the ground, it will be detected as an obstacle that has approached abnormally, so do not catch the ground,
Do not transmit below the horizontal. Alternatively, in a normal state, the wave is transmitted downward in a range in which the detected position on the ground is a distance longer than the threshold value.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an example of the configuration for performing the ultrasonic scanning as described above, and is a schematic partial perspective view of the mounting portion of the ultrasonic sensor 2 in the cane 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic sensor 2 includes a cane 1
It is configured to be rotatable in a predetermined angle range in the circumferential direction (X direction), and horizontal ultrasonic scanning can be performed. In addition, the ultrasonic sensor 2 is configured to swing the ultrasonic wave transmission angle in the vertical direction (Y direction) of the cane 1. With the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic wave transmission direction can be scanned in the horizontal / vertical direction.

As the obstacle detecting means in the cane for the visually impaired of the present invention, not only the ultrasonic sensor 2 as described above, but also an infrared sensor or an optical sensor can be applied. Also in this case, the situation around the cane can be reliably detected by providing the scanning mechanism as described above. Further, as other obstacle detecting means, a means for performing detection by information processing using an image pickup device as described below can be used.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining still another embodiment of the cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention. 5, instead of the ultrasonic sensor 2 and the sensor drive unit 5 shown in FIG. 3, an imaging device 1 using, for example, a CCD camera
0 and an imaging information processing unit 11 that analyzes and processes imaging data by the imaging device 10, and the imaging information processing unit 11
By monitoring the imaged data, calculating the distance to the obstacle based on the size of the imaged obstacle, and when it is determined that there is an obstacle at a distance equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, as described above. The warning is issued by the voice synthesizing unit 6 and the voice output unit 7, the warning sound output unit 8 such as an electronic sound or a buzzer, or the vibrator 9.

Further, in the case of the information processing using the image pickup device 10 as shown in FIG. 5, since the form of the obstacle and the surrounding condition can be known, the user of the cane 1 can avoid the obstacle. I can tell you the direction. In this case, the direction to be avoided may be synthesized by the speech synthesis unit 6 and output from the speech output unit 7.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining still another embodiment of the cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention. Cane 1 of this embodiment
Is a wireless communication means 12 that enables wireless data communication with an external device with respect to the cane configured as shown in FIG.
The emergency call button 13 is provided so that the user can make a call report to the outside in an emergency. Note that, in FIG. 6, the warning sound output unit 8 and the vibrator 9 as an informing unit are not shown.

The walking stick 1 of this embodiment has a wireless communication means 12 capable of wireless data communication with a predetermined communication partner via an antenna 15. For example, the control unit 3 monitors the detection state of the ultrasonic sensor 2, and when an obstacle is detected within a short distance equal to or less than a threshold value for a predetermined time or longer, it is determined that something is abnormal and the wireless communication unit 12 is used. It can be configured to notify an abnormality to a predetermined destination. That is, when an obstacle is nearby for a long time without turning off the power, it is determined that it is not in a steady state. Further, at this time, a warning sound output unit 8 as shown in FIG. 3 may be used to generate a predetermined warning sound to inform the surroundings of the abnormality.

Further, the cane 1 is provided with an emergency call button 13, and when the emergency call button 13 is pressed, the control means 3 uses the wireless communication means 12 to set a predetermined destination. Send emergency call information to.
As the destination of the emergency information, the 119 fire station may be directly designated, a server of a service company that undertakes emergency contact may be used, or a terminal device of family, friends, or the like may be used.

Although not shown, an impact sensor is provided on the cane 1, and when the impact sensor is activated by an impact of a predetermined level or more, the abnormality information as described above is transmitted to the predetermined destination via the wireless communication means 12. It may be transmitted to.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining still another embodiment of the cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention. The cane for the visually impaired according to the present embodiment has the present position in addition to the configuration of FIG. Measuring unit 16, navigation unit 17, voice recognition unit 18,
The audio input unit 19 and the current position output request button 20 are provided. That is, the cane 1 of this embodiment has the current position measuring means 16 and the navigation means 17, and the current position measuring means 16 determines the current position of the cane based on the signal for measuring the current position received through the antenna 15. It is possible to provide a function of performing navigation to the destination by voice output by measuring and voice inputting the destination by the user.

As the current position measuring means 16, GPS (gl
A position measuring means by an obal positioning system) can be used. GPS is a global positioning system and is widely adopted as a position measuring means for car navigation systems. The GPS system receives radio waves from GPS satellites that orbit the sky and measures the position.

The current position measuring means 16 by GPS measures its own position (position of the cane) based on the radio wave from the GPS satellite received via the antenna. In addition, the cane 1
Present position information output request button 2 that can be operated by the user
0 is provided, and when the user presses the request button 20, the current position measuring unit 16 refers to the map reading information stored in the data storage unit 4 and outputs the data for notifying the position information to the voice synthesizing unit. 6, and the voice synthesizer 6 generates voice information about the current position and outputs the voice information from the voice output unit 7 to notify the user of the current position information.

Further, the user can receive route guidance (navigation) by voice information by inputting the destination. That is, the user voice-inputs the destination from the voice input unit 19, the voice recognition unit 18 recognizes the inputted voice, and transmits the recognition data to the navigation means 17. The navigation unit 17 refers to the current position information obtained by the current position measuring unit 16 and the map information stored in the data storage unit 4 to generate navigation data to the destination. That is, the navigation means 17
Provides detailed instruction information to the user while confirming the current position information for the user's navigation. The instruction information is voice-synthesized by the voice synthesizer 6 and output from the voice output unit 7. This allows the user to safely reach the destination.

In FIG. 7, the current position measuring means 16
As the above-mentioned GPS position measurement method,
A position measuring means using the radio wave of the HS base station or another position measuring means using the radio wave signal can be appropriately adopted.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the cane for visually impaired persons of the present invention, information and risk factors around the visually impaired persons can be accurately detected and notified to the visually impaired persons. By enabling data communication with the visually-impaired person, it is possible to provide a cane for the visually-impaired person, which enables the visually-impaired person to move safely such as walking.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of an embodiment of a cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another external appearance of an embodiment of a cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example for performing scanning of ultrasonic pulses by an ultrasonic sensor.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining still another embodiment of the cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining still another embodiment of the cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining still another embodiment of the cane for the visually impaired according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Cane, 2 ... Ultrasonic sensor, 3 ... Control part, 4 ... Data storage part, 5 ... Sensor drive part, 6 ... Voice synthesis part, 7 ... Voice output part, 8 ... Warning sound output part, 9 ... Vibrator, 10
Image pickup device 11, image pickup information processing unit 12, wireless communication means 13, emergency call button, 15 antenna, 16
... current position measuring means, 17 ... navigation means, 18
... voice recognition unit, 19 ... voice input unit, 20 ... current position output request button, u ... ultrasonic pulse.

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. At least a detection unit for detecting an obstacle or the like, and a notification unit for notifying a user such as a visually impaired person of warning information according to a detection result of the detection unit. A cane for the visually impaired. 2. The cane for a visually handicapped person according to claim 1, wherein the cane for a visually handicapped person calculates a distance to an obstacle based on a detection result of the detecting means, and determines the distance according to the distance of the obstacle. A warning to the user when the distance calculated by the detection means to the obstacle is determined to be shorter than the threshold based on a predetermined threshold for warning notification. A cane for the visually impaired. 3. The cane for the visually impaired according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an ultrasonic sensor is used as the detecting means. 4. The cane for the visually impaired according to claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic sensor transmits an ultrasonic pulse, and the transmitted pulse reflects a return pulse by being reflected by an object such as an obstacle. A receiving staff, wherein the calculating means calculates the distance to an obstacle by measuring the time from the transmission of the ultrasonic sensor to the reception of the ultrasonic sensor. 5. The cane for the visually impaired according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the cane for the visually impaired scans the ultrasonic wave in a direction parallel to and / or perpendicular to a long axis of the cane. A cane for the visually impaired, characterized in that it has a sensor drive means for driving the ultrasonic sensor. 6. The cane for the visually impaired according to claim 5, wherein the sensor drive means is for the visually impaired when the scanning is performed in a direction parallel to the long axis direction of the cane for the visually impaired. Do not transmit waves below the vertical direction with respect to the long axis of the cane, or scan in a range where the ground detection position is a distance longer than the threshold value under normal conditions. A cane for the visually impaired, characterized by being set. 7. The visually impaired walking stick according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes an image pickup device and an image pickup information processing means for processing an image pickup result of the image pickup device. Cane. 8. The walking stick for the visually impaired according to claim 7, wherein the imaging information processing means monitors the data imaged by the image sensor and detects obstacles based on the imaged obstacle data. Is calculated, and when it is determined that there is an obstacle at a distance shorter than a predetermined threshold value, a warning is given by the notifying means, and a cane for the visually impaired is provided. 9. The cane for the visually impaired according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the imaging information processing means analyzes an obstacle imaged by the imaging element, and the cane for the visually impaired is A voice synthesizer for synthesizing voice information for notifying a user of a walking stick for a disabled person of the avoidance direction of the obstacle, and a voice output unit for outputting the voice synthesized by the voice synthesizer. A cane for the visually impaired. 10. The walking stick for the visually impaired according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the notifying means is a voice synthesizing means for synthesizing a notifying voice to generate a voice signal, and the voice synthesizing means. A wand for a visually impaired person, comprising a voice output means for outputting a voice signal by voice, and performing a warning notification to the user by voice. 11. The cane for a visually handicapped person according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit outputs a warning sound by a predetermined electronic sound or a physical vibration sound such as a buzzer. A cane for the visually impaired, having a part. 12. The cane for the visually impaired according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the informing means has a vibrator for fibrillating a portion of the cane for the visually impaired held by a user. A cane for the visually impaired, characterized in that a warning is given to the user by operating the vibrator. 13. A cane for the visually impaired according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the cane for the visually impaired includes a wireless communication means that enables wireless data communication with an external device. And monitoring the detection state by the detection means, and when an obstacle is detected at a distance shorter than the threshold value for a predetermined time or more, it is determined that something is abnormal, and the wireless communication means determines a predetermined value. A cane for the visually impaired, which is characterized by transmitting an abnormal signal to the destination of. 14. The walking stick for the visually impaired according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the notifying means has a warning sound output means for generating a predetermined warning sound, and the detection state by the detection means is indicated. When an obstacle is monitored and a distance shorter than the threshold is detected for a predetermined time or more, it is determined that something is abnormal, and the warning sound output means emits a warning sound to inform the surroundings of the abnormality. Staff for the visually impaired. 15. A cane for the visually impaired according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the cane for the visually impaired is a wireless communication unit that enables wireless data communication with an external device. A user has an emergency call button used in an emergency, and when the emergency call button is pressed, the emergency call information is transmitted to a predetermined destination using the wireless communication means. A cane for the visually impaired. 16. The cane for the visually impaired according to claim 1, wherein the cane for the visually impaired is a wireless communication unit that enables wireless data communication with an external device. A shock sensor, which transmits the emergency call information to a predetermined destination determined in advance by using the wireless communication means when the shock sensor is actuated upon receiving a shock of an abnormal level. A cane for the visually impaired. 17. The walking stick for the visually impaired according to claim 1, wherein the walking stick for the visually impaired is based on an antenna and a signal for measuring the current position received through the antenna. 2. A cane for the visually impaired, comprising: a current position measuring means for measuring the current position of 1. and means for outputting a result of the measurement by the current position measuring means by voice synthesis in response to a user's request. 18. The visually impaired cane according to claim 17, wherein the visually impaired cane recognizes voice input means and voice input to the voice input means to generate voice recognition data. A voice recognition means, a storage means for storing map information, a navigation to a destination input by voice using the current position information measured by the current position measuring means and the map information stored in the storage means. And a navigation means for performing, when the target location is voice-input to the voice input means, the navigation means functions to execute the navigation to the destination by the voice synthesis and output means. A cane for the visually impaired. 19. The walking stick for the visually impaired according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the current position measuring means is a GPS.
A cane for the visually impaired, characterized by using a positioning system based on (global positioning system). 20. The cane for the visually impaired according to claim 17, wherein the current position measuring means is means for measuring the position by using a radio wave of a PHS base station. Cane.