The white cane began in 1921, when photographer James Biggs painted his walking stick white after losing his sight, and by 1931 it was recognised as a symbol of visual impairment across Europe. Many electronic aids followed, including the Sonic Torch and Sonic Guide, which used ultrasonic echoes to detect obstacles. Most were commercial failures, and the Sonic Torch and Sonic Guide did not last. Later devices such as the UltraCane added vibrating sensors, yet many blind users still prefer the simple cane because it gives reliable, low-cost feedback through touch and sound. Researchers now argue that the best designs come from involving blind users from the start.

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.