During my high school years, WeWALK had just been launched. At that time, I had the opportunity to try WeWALK at Vestel’s factory while demos were still being made and R&D work was ongoing. Witnessing the birth of a product and later contributing to its development was a very special experience for me. From those early days to today, I have closely followed every stage of WeWALK.
Close to the time I was going abroad, I was invited to the United States through YGA programs. Around that same period, WeWALK’s first product was released, and I took it with me to the U.S. Having WeWALK there carried a very special meaning for me and truly made a difference.
Imagine this: I’m in a country I don’t know. I have to navigate unfamiliar airports on my own. Of course, there are people who can help, but there’s also a language barrier. On top of that, I was a high school student at the time, and there weren’t many people around who knew me well. Everyone was a stranger, including the agency staff member who met me upon arrival. The person who greeted me was Spanish, and I barely knew English.
Under these conditions, I had no choice but to rely on myself. And that was a very different feeling. Because WeWALK was with me, I felt very calm and comfortable. No matter what, I was with a device that I could understand and that could understand me, helping me reach wherever I wanted to go. This experience was extremely valuable to me, and it helped me realize that in my future travels, walks, and every moment of my life, I first needed to trust myself.
The concept of “companionship” in WeWALK’s slogan is very important to me. Even if I don’t know any techniques or don’t know where I am, seeing WeWALK as a companion and being able to do things together, feeling that support, comes above everything else.
For visually impaired individuals, a cane is actually more than just a tool; it is a kind of companion. Just as WeWALK says, it’s a companion we walk alongside. This feeling becomes even more meaningful, especially when walking in unfamiliar environments and unknown streets.
Obstacles at shoulder and head level were unfortunately very challenging for us before WeWALK. Of course, there are many obstacles, and it’s easier to detect those we scan with the tip of the cane. But signs, trees, thin metal bars under some signs… These can be at heights like one meter or one and a half meters and can hit you right in the head.
Especially after I started studying at Dokuz Eylül University, WeWALK became extremely useful for me in Buca. The sidewalks there are narrow and unfortunately not suitable for humane conditions. These are areas where even walking is quite difficult for any individual, let alone a person with a disability. Seagulls, signs, poles, hanging tree branches, even clothing donation boxes… Being able to sense and detect these obstacles in advance with WeWALK’s sensor and protect myself makes me feel much safer.
After the first version of WeWALK, they continued to collect feedback, and I contributed to this process as well. We shared suggestions such as making the device water-resistant, reducing its size, and creating a more ergonomic design.
One of the first pieces of feedback I gave was about making WeWALK water-resistant. When using the first WeWALK, I used to feel very anxious: “Will it get wet? What if it rains?” I was constantly thinking about this. Sometimes I would leave home in sunny weather, and it would start raining in the afternoon. Sometimes it would rain in the morning and stop later, and I would think, “I wish I had taken it with me.” The addition of water resistance was a very, very good improvement for me.
With WeWALK 2, I once again saw how passionately this team works to make everything better. Knowing that there is a team ready for us—one that sees the real-life applicability of the feedback we give, understands it, and develops solutions—feels truly wonderful.
I liked WeWALK 2 very, very much, and it is still a device I actively use in my social life. Its ergonomics, voice assistant feature, built-in flashlight, and app integration are truly excellent. I already knew how passionately this team works to improve everything, and with WeWALK 2, I saw this passion materialize.
It is a highly efficient device in every sense. Of course, witnessing the process and comparing the previous version with the current one also made me feel really good. That’s why I’m very happy, and I’m eagerly and excitedly waiting to see what they will do next. Let’s see what awaits us next time.
To my friends who are just starting their journey toward independent mobility or who haven’t yet found that courage, I would like to say this: It’s actually a hard question to answer, but maybe it’s helpful to remember this—feeling safe, and first feeling that you trust yourself, is very important. I think this is the most important thing when going outside.
What I felt in my own independent mobility journey was, in general, the need to feel safe—to reach the feeling of “I am safe.” Accepting that I could do this on my own took some time. Saying “I can do things by myself and I don’t need anyone’s support” is not easy.
But fortunately, WeWALK is a very helpful technology in this process. Having a voice assistant and navigation through the app are wonderful features. And I know that the generations after us, those who are my age now, or even older, are actually a bit lucky because we live within technology.
At first, being able to use technology well may give that sense of security. And then having the confidence to say, “Did I take a wrong turn? Okay, I’ll check WeWALK, it will guide me to the right path, and I’ll find my way”—that confidence… Trusting ourselves first and then our surroundings is a very beautiful thing, in my opinion.
Being able to do this in my own journey took a long time. But in America, the moment I first landed at that airport, I understood that with every step I take, I need to trust myself first. WeWALK became a great companion on this journey.
Remember, realizing that you can feel safe and being aware that you are capable of doing this is incredibly valuable. And WeWALK is one of the best companions that can accompany you on this path.
I would like to sincerely thank the WeWALK team for their work.
