EssentialTalk: Boosting Innovation in Africa

David was in Switzerland for a talk at the United Nations than can be seen here:

At EPFL David gave a lecture on 2 topics: (see pictures)

• Improving prosthetic limbs to increase the comfort level of amputees

David is a PhD student in the Biomechatronics Group at the MIT Media Lab, focusing on the mechanical interfaces between man and machine. His research focuses on the design of comfortable prosthetic sockets and wearable interfaces. His work is at the intersection of medical imaging, material science, human anatomy, computer-aided design and manufacturing. Today, nearly 100% of amputees report some form of discomfort in their prosthetic sockets.

The talk will highlight work done in the design and manufacturing of a multimaterial 3D printed prosthetic socket by the Biomechatronics Group at MIT Media Lab and Stratasys. Custom fitted prosthetic sockets designed with variable impedance determined by the underlying anatomy at each node within the prosthetic socket have been manufactured and used in lab settings. Our prototypes, which combine conventional manufacturing processes and 3D printing, have been used outside the lab in a recent investigation. The combination of both CAD/CAM and conventional materials and processes gives us the best of both worlds: structural integrity and variable impedance, to increase the comfort level of amputees.

• Enabling a Generation of Creative Doers in Africa: How young people are changing their world

David is also the President and co-founder of Global Minimum Inc. (GMin), an international NGO that has distributed over 15,000 mosquito nets in Sierra Leone. Currently, GMin’s main project is Innovate Salone, the first-ever competition created to foster innovation among high-school students in Sierra Leone. Innovate Salone is a mentorship program and set of workshops where Sierra Leone’s youth can get help in developing their ideas. In just six weeks, the program attracted 300 students who worked on 72 different projects related to health, agriculture, household chores, crafts and entertainment. GMin also has Innovate The Cape which is currently running in Cape Town, South Africa.