Abstract: The present invention provides a mobility aid, for example a mobility aid handled in the manner of a flashlight, which allows a totally blind person to hand-scan, such as back and forth or up and down, the surrounding scene in order to hear the unbroken tonal phrases of varying frequencies which continuously indicate to the user the distance to, and, from the position of the hand, the position of objects and surfaces which make up the user's surroundings. A narrow laser beam is used, resulting in much higher angular resolution and distance detail, due to the much shorter wavelength, than that obtainable from practical ultrasonic devices, including those of the said prior art.