Mobility Scenarios

In what kind of scenario would the Sunu Band be a perfect fit for improving your mobility? Here we take a moment to explain a few scenarios that would be perfect for using your Sunu Band. 

I. Following a queue and trailing

Being able to follow a line or queue is a typical everyday scenario and one where the use of the white cane or guide dog is limited because of space and social constructs.
In this scenario, the user applies both techniques to know when a person ahead in a queue stepped forward.
The Sunu Band may be applied to the trailing technique to help the user ‘track’ the person that they are following.

II. Using Sunu Band when traveling with a sighted guide

The Sunu Band may be used to complement travel with a sighted guide. Wear Sunu Band in the opposite hand to where the guide is, and aiming the sonar outward – the user can gain awareness of an area that may be unprotected by the guide. As sometimes, sighted guides misjudge opening, etc., and forget that they are traveling for two.
Using Sunu Band in this scenario allows the user to keep awareness and make any adjustments while traveling with the guide

III. Walking parallel to walls and surfaces 

The Sunu Band can help users stay on course, especially when walking in a corridor or hallway. By aiming the sonar towards one of the hall walls, the user may sense their position relative to the walls within the hallway and walk without veering off to either side of the corridor.

IV. Corners, passageways, aisles and intersections

Sunu Band can help a user identify corners and intersections within indoor spaces. A corner or junction in the hallway may readily be detected by feeling an immediate change in the vibration feedback.
Users may encounter these scenarios at home, at the office, or navigating the aisles of a supermarket or store.

V. Doorways and thresholds

Use Sunu band to identify gaps, openings, or thresholds within indoor spaces. The user may confirm that they are at a doorway or room threshold by feeling a change in the vibration feedback. As the user scans, the vibration feedback changes from constant or moderate pulses to no vibration pulses, indicating the wall’s threshold to the opening.
Users may encounter this scenario when entering buildings that use automatic doors, such as stores, etc. Users may apply this skill to help them gauge the interior space of an unfamiliar location.

VI. Getting to know places

Sunu Band can help users become even more familiar and comfortable with known and semi-familiar places indoors and outdoors. By applying the techniques described above, the Sunu Band can ‘map out’ areas such as a sidewalk lined with trees, bushes, fences, parked cars, signposts, trash bins, and other obstacles.
Sunu Band may also be used to become more familiar with interior spaces such as office spaces, shopping centers, schools, libraries, churches, gatherings, etc.

VII. Scanning Technique with the White Cane

The scanning technique broadens the awareness zone; for example, when walking on the sidewalk, you can sweep or scan Sunu Band in the similar way you scan or sweep with the white cane.

It is recommended that users sweep both the cane and the Sunu Band in the same manner. That way, the cane provides detection at the floor level, while the Sunu Band provides awareness above the waist.

VIII. Detecting overhead or head-level obstacles

Sunu Band compliments the upper protective technique by providing detection of head-level objects such as tree branches, construction scaffolding, or protruding objects; this can be achieved by:

1. By slightly raising the hand, the user now aims the sonar sensor upwards and is, therefore, able to detect any object at the level of their face and head.  
2. Bring the hand wearing the Sunu Band up to the chest level and placing the palm flat against their chest; this fixes the sonar sensor’s position making it face upwards.

IX. Orienting to cardinal directions

By connecting the Sunu Band to the mobile app, users can take advantage of the navigation features on the Sunu Band.
One of the easiest features to use is the Sunu Band Compass; it essentially turns the user’s hand into the compass needle, allowing users to find out which direction they’re heading by simply raising and pointing the hand that is wearing the Sunu Band.

This feature does require the Sunu Band to be paired to the smartphone and calibrated. Calibration only takes a few minutes and, once complete, should only be done sporadically. The user can activate the compass by opening the main menu of apps on the Sunu Band and selecting the compass feature.
By following the appropriate technique, the user can gauge their travel direction very quickly and return to the obstacle detection mode.