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Available shortly . . .
The Somerwood VizCane® represents the latest advance in walking cane technology and is unique in the market place. It is illuminated so you can readily be seen when you are using it, and it folds for convenience and ease of use. It has been designed for both ramblers and the visually impaired. The Directors of Somerwood receive a prestigious international innovation awardAn article from Dunmow Broadcast and Recorder - 2 December 2006AN INGENIOUS product designed to make blind people's lives easier has bagged a company a prestigious international award.Leah and Graham Hunter, whose company Somerwood makes a wide variety of walking aids, received the award at the International Innovation Conference, held in Estonia. Mr Hunter said that he had no idea that the company, based in Widdington near Saffron Walden, he runs in conjunction with his wife was going to receive the award at the conference. He said: "We were very surprised - we didn't know that there was going to be an award ceremony at all. "There was an announcement that 250 Innovation Relay Centre members had voted on the most innovative project for 2006, and we'd won it!" Innovation Relay Centres were introduced in 1995 by the European Commission to enable the transfer of innovative technologies between inventors, designers and manufacturers. Mr Hunter explained: "They match together partners: one might have an idea, the other the means to manufacture it and make it a reality. "We're in negotiations with a Hungarian company regarding the manufacture of our product." The product which earned Somerwood the award was an inventive walking cane for the blind which is illuminated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs), making its user more visible. Mr Hunter said: "The canes are made up of a polycarbonate tube, with an elastic strip running down the middle, and an aluminium handle. The handle contains circuitry and six LEDs, which shine light down the polycarbonate tube and light it up. "It's battery powered, and sound effects inform the user of whether they've switched it on or off, and when it is running low on battery. "We've designed it to be as user-friendly as possible." The idea for the illuminated cane came from a late Danish inventor who the Hunters visited and bought the patent from three years ago. They were helped in the design stage by students from the engineering department of Greenwich University and are now ready to begin production. "All we need now is financial investment, then we can push the button right away," said Mr Hunter. "It will be priced around £50, which is more expensive than a conventional cane, but then it has considerable added benefits." If you would like to find out more about Somerwood or think that you may be able to help the company, you can visit the website www. somerwood-walking-aids.co.uk for more information and contact details. Email a friend about the Somerwood VizCane®
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Note: All prices in British Pounds
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Postal address: Somerwood Limited Unit 2C Priors Hall Widdington Saffron Walden Essex CB11 3SB Tel: +44 (0)845 6442279 - Visitors are welcome, but please phone first to arrange a time Registered in England and Wales No. 3845334 VAT No. GB 798 6933 43 Copyright© 2004, 2008 Somerwood Limited - All rights reserved |
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