Abstract: The invention relates to a device to aid the orientation of blind and partially sighted people. The device comprises a long cane and an additional device comprising a laser measuring system. By transmitting and receiving laser beams the laser measuring system detects objects in a planar detection area of a detection plane containing the long cane. Indicating means indicates the presence and the absence of objects in this planar detection area by a first and by a second information, respectively, for example by the presence of a determined signal and by the absence of a determined signal. This allows to detect objects above the long cane.