A BLIND man is using a high-tech cane that sends out sonar signals like a bat to find his way around.
Geoff Madge, 48, has worked in IT at Essex County Council, in Chelmsford, for 25 years, and has always used a traditional long white cane to navigate.
But the father-of-two, who, unlike most blind people, cannot even detect light from dark, is one of the first people in the UK to use the revolutionary cane through the Access to Work scheme, a Government programme that helps disabled people in the work place.
The UltraCane uses sonar – much like a bat – to map the surrounding area and warn Geoff of the dangers in his path by sending signals through the device's handle.
"It's like two parking sensors," said Geoff.
"One tells me about obstacles ahead of me, up to six metres, and the other tells me what is above me.
"I know what's going on because there's two vibrating buttons on the handle that vibrate quicker and quicker the closer I get to an obstacle.
"It's a mini radar that helps me build up a picture of what's around me."
Geoff, who lost his sight in his late teens after being born with a condition called retinitis pigmentosa, says the technology has changed his life.
"Before, I only knew about an obstacle once I hit it, but now I am finding out what is there in advance and can take avoiding action before I get there," said Geoff, who grew up in Purleigh but now lives in Hertford with his wife of ten years and their two children, aged seven and four.
"It certainly makes doing things a lot safer and gives me much more confidence in new places."
And the futuristic cane has already become an object of interest at County Hall. "My sighted work colleagues are fascinated by it and how it helps me get around. It's a real talking point," he added.
Leader of Essex County Council Peter Martin said: "I'm delighted that one of our own valued employees has been supported in receiving such revolutionary equipment, thanks to the Access to Work scheme."
Access to Work is a scheme run by Jobcentre Plus, to provide advice and support to disabled people and employers, to help them overcome work-related problems.