Technical Vision Inc., a product development company focused on designing and manufacturing assistive devices and technologies for the visually and physically disabled, today announced the launch of the company's premier mobility aid product, My Mobile Light™ Low Vision Aid. 

My Mobile Light combines two types of assistance in a single Aid for Daily Living: a clear, ultra-bright LED light to illuminate the travel path of individuals with low vision who suffer from impaired depth perception and spatial cognition, and a walking cane for support of balance and gait.  My Mobile Light provides intense and even lighting in a wide arc in front of and laterally along the sides of the travel path of the user to reduce the risk of falling and to create a more confident and independent walking experience.

My Mobile Light was designed and tested in collaboration with low vision rehabilitation therapists at a leading College of Optometry; IMET Corporation, a Southampton, PA based contract manufacturing and product development firm specializing in PCB Assembly and Electronics Engineering; and MTS Ventures, an engineering, product design and manufacturing company in Allentown, PA.  Low vision simulators were used in development to create the same nighttime travel conditions that would be experienced by people with different types of vision impairments.  Varying intensities, spectra and angles of illumination were tested to identify the optimal configuration for navigation in low lighting.

Low vision impairs depth and color perception and the ability to judge distances, especially in poorly lighted environments.  This can dramatically decrease a person's mobility.  Research has shown that the combination of low vision and low light doubles the risk falling and that fifty percent of falls occur at home, most often on level surfaces. 

"Our goal was to create an effective, practical and easy-to-use daily living aid for people with visual impairments," said Technical Vision CEO Lorraine Keller, Ph.D. "When testing our device under simulated low vision conditions the most profound realization for me was becoming completely sightless in the dark; only then did I understand the degree of vision loss and disorientation individuals with low vision experience in the absence of adequate lighting."

Keller continued, "One of the greatest fears of people with vision loss is getting around safely at home and away without being injured by tripping or falling. Through our testing we've developed a mobility aid that delivers optimal light positioning, intensity and color for the low vision user in a support cane design that is easy to use for everyday support."