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Creating meaningful and purposeful products: Compact Cane

Nia Simpson is taking her final-year mechanical engineering project, the Compact Cane, to the commercial market.

For Nia's final-year mechanical engineering project, she was given the brief to improve the white cane. Using a user-centred design approach to the project, Nia met Devanshi, Alex and Brenda who helped her to develop her design solution. Nia's digital cane uses ultrasonic waves to identify obstacles and communicates these to a visually impaired user through vibrations. After her graduation, Nia was supported by the University of Bath's Innovation Centre to turn her idea into a business.

‘I look forward to the days of someone using a Compact Cane and seeing the confidence that it gives them in their own identity.’
Nia Simpson Entrepreneur and Founder of Compact Cane

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