riwc_para_a152 hacking wheelchairs with open design, digital fabrication and the maker movement
TRANSCRIPT
DisruptDisability@hackonwheels
The Problem
Founder and Director Rachael Wallach Cambodia, 2013
Founder and Director Rachael Wallach Cambodia, 2013
To give freedom and independence a wheelchair needs to be customized to the body, lifestyle and environment of its user.
With traditional design, manufacture and distribution customization comes with a prohibitive price.
£££
Wheelchair users have limited choice and control over customizing their wheelchairs.
Worldwide, 65 million people need a wheelchair.
8 of every 10 people who need a wheelchair cannot access one that meets their needs.
That’s 52 million people.
The Inspiration
e-NABLE
Paul, Denise & the Autodesk community
Open Bionics
The Question
What would happen if we disrupted the design,
manufacture and distribution of wheelchairs, with user innovation, open
source design and distributed manufacture?
What would happen if we created an online library of open source designs and
instructions for making fully customisable wheelchairs that anyone can freely use,
adapt and develop?
What would happen if we developed a community of
makers and people who need wheelchairs:
connected, inspired and enabled to create fully
customised wheelchairs?
The Solution
“I’m not a wheelchair user.
I wear my wheels.”
It’s not a medical device, it’s wearable
tech…
A modular design with customizable, interchangeable
parts
The wheelchair user is in control…
Wheelchair Wearer
Design
Therapist
Manufacture
Customization
Open Source Design
Library
designs with i
Virtual Wheelchair Service
Customized Wheelchairs
Open source design files for core wheelchair modules and
components
Hackathons, design challenges & a platform enable users & designers
to develop & adapt designs
Completed designs with instructions for how to make them
System and specification of wheelchair modules, components
and interfaces Fitting platform that enables the wearer to
fit and customize their wheelchair
Sensor platform that gives the wearer
feedback on correct usage
In well resourced settings individuals
select a design, customize it & send it
to a manufacturer
In less resourced settings NGOs adapt
designs through local hackathons to
enable local manufacture
Charity Company Partnerships
The Progress
120 people have attended #HackOnWheels hackathons
150 organisations supporting #HackOnWheels
1000 members of the #HackOnWheels movement
Volunteer design team creating a modular system
We’re starting to build our library on Wevolver
#HackOnWheels design brief for the RSA Student Design Awards, sponsored by GDI Hub
We’re disrupting disability.
Join us.
