Mumbai Student Develops Smart Attachment to Enhance Standard White Cane for Visually Impaired Users

Mumbai-based early-stage assistive mobility venture ClearWay Mobility has introduced a smart attachment designed to add obstacle detection to the standard white cane used by visually impaired people. The device, which fits onto existing canes, alerts users to obstacles in their path through vibration and optional audio feedback.

Developed by 17-year-old Jaiveer Talwar, a student at The Cathedral & John Connon School in Mumbai, the product originated as a school science-fair project in 2021. Talwar later completed an internship with a prosthetics company in 2024 to gain practical exposure to mobility challenges and assistive technologies.

The attachment has been built around three primary considerations: affordability, reliability, and ease of use. It operates independently, eliminating the need for a smartphone, companion application, or a change in the user's existing white cane. In navigating urban environments such as Mumbai, where crowded streets and uneven pavements pose daily challenges, the device is intended to offer an additional layer of information while keeping the traditional white cane central to navigation.

In 2026, a revised version of the ClearWay device underwent testing with students and teachers at the Smt. Kamla Mehta Dadar School for the Blind in Mumbai. Feedback from the trials emphasized the importance of simplicity and reliability in assistive devices. Additionally, feedback regarding the safety of visually impaired young women led to the inclusion of GPS tracking, allowing family members to check a user's location when necessary.

Following the testing phase, ClearWay has entered the manufacturing stage with the production of an initial batch. The venture's next phase will concentrate on refining the product through continued user feedback, collaborating with institutions for broader testing and deployment, and exploring pathways to achieve accessibility at scale.

"What started as a school project became something I wanted to keep working on once I understood how real the problem was," said Jaiveer Talwar, commenting on the venture's progression. "The most useful learning has come from speaking to users and seeing what actually matters in everyday use."

"The development of ClearWay Mobility highlights the importance of user-centric product design, particularly in the assistive technology sector. By focusing on an existing tool—the standard white cane—rather than forcing users to adopt entirely new habits or expensive hardware, the venture addresses practical accessibility challenges. For early-stage entrepreneurs, grounding product development in direct feedback from institutions and end-users is a vital step toward creating scalable, real-world solutions." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes