First Semester Progress
Thought it would be good to update you on the progress we made before starting the blog. Two simple prototypes have been developed for arm and leg prosthetics. These need to be finished and tested. Though Vanessa has not been officially on this project since the beginning, she has provided input and inspiration throughout.
Much of first semester was finding out exactly how I wanted to spend my time. When I finally settled on a single idea--instead of pursuing a bunch at once--the first marking period was over. During that time I toyed around working on genetic engineering, making my own EKG Machine, and developing a standing wheelchair. None of these worked out very well, but they did lead me towards the project that Vanessa and I are currently working on.
The start of this endeavor was to identify what type of medical equipment is needed in the third world. After doing some research, the problem with land mines presented itself along with the need for prosthetics. (More on this can be found here.)
The next thing I really wanted to try was building a wheelchair. They are needed all over and most are quite expensive. I wanted to design one that let the disabled person move themselves and perhaps be able to take care of themselves instead of begging. The presence of a functional wheelchair could be the difference between a man with a job and a man on the street. We decided to use a hand truck as a base for our design. They are sturdy, cheep, and can be found everywhere. (More on this can be found here.)
Much of first semester was finding out exactly how I wanted to spend my time. When I finally settled on a single idea--instead of pursuing a bunch at once--the first marking period was over. During that time I toyed around working on genetic engineering, making my own EKG Machine, and developing a standing wheelchair. None of these worked out very well, but they did lead me towards the project that Vanessa and I are currently working on.
The start of this endeavor was to identify what type of medical equipment is needed in the third world. After doing some research, the problem with land mines presented itself along with the need for prosthetics. (More on this can be found here.)
The next thing I really wanted to try was building a wheelchair. They are needed all over and most are quite expensive. I wanted to design one that let the disabled person move themselves and perhaps be able to take care of themselves instead of begging. The presence of a functional wheelchair could be the difference between a man with a job and a man on the street. We decided to use a hand truck as a base for our design. They are sturdy, cheep, and can be found everywhere. (More on this can be found here.)