TrainingModule 1: Obstructed path
Section 21 of 41
Obstacles
Before you encounter unexpected obstacles out on a route, practice by going around a simple familiar obstacle such as the box Glide was shipped in, or a garbage bin. Notice the resistance in Glide’s wheels as you approach an obstacle that fully blocks your path. Follow the change in direction Glide’s wheels make to steer you safely around an obstacle that only partially blocks your path. If you are curious how far away the obstacle is, or what it is, stay behind Glide while you use a white cane or your free hand to reach out and verify.
Narrow pathways
If the path ahead is too narrow for you and Glide to fit safely, Glide will apply the brakes, indicating you cannot continue in that direction. If the path is narrow, but you and Glide can fit single file, it will announce “narrow.” You may continue walking forward, adjusting your position to follow closely behind Glide’s handle centered at your belly button. Throughout the narrow path, Glide will emit a repeating beep as long as the path is narrow. The beep will continue until the path is no longer narrow. When the path is no longer narrow, the beep will stop and Glide will announce “clear.” This is your cue that you can relax your narrow position with Glide and continue walking normally. This feature operates in both outdoor and indoor environments.
Shorelining
Just as you would with your white cane, Glide can be used to follow the right or left edge of a building, sidewalk, or other tactile line in the environment. Similar to the scanning technique, gently pivot your wrist to aim Glide’s cameras in the direction you want to shoreline, 1 o’clock right or 10 o’clock left for example. Then, tap the Glide button to confirm the new angle and continue walking forward. If there are additional obstacles protruding from the edge such as a pillar or gaps such as an open doorway, you will feel Glide nudge you laterally right or left while continuing to shoreline at the angle you set. Using this technique is a great way to find landmarks and desired targets along the side of a path such as benches, trash cans, and upcoming turns. This feature operates in both outdoor and indoor environments.