Source: Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers
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“What Roli is doing with Blocks is very similar to what Sony did with the Walkman.” –Roli CEO Roland Lamb
How Maker Pros are Designing the Next Generation of Assistive Technology
Remember the podcast we mentioned last week, Not Impossible (@NotImpossible)? A terrific new episode tells the story of Johnny Matheny(@starfish25168), who after losing his arm to cancer got the chance to try an experimental new prosthetic that uses direct neural control, harnessing the brain’s signals to direct the new arm.
Inspired by his experience with the technology, Matheny started a nonprofit called The Starfish Prosthetics Foundation (@starfishchange), which is working with physicians to spread advanced prosthetics to more patients — as well as raising funds for an “arm program” that will provide individual users with next-generation units.
The podcast is sponsored by Avnet (@Avnet), which in full disclosure has also sponsored Maker Media (@MakerMedia) events in the past. Speaking of Avnet, design community element14 (@element14), which is a subsidiary of the Avnet-owned Premier Farnell (@FarnellNews), launched a contest this week called Design for a Cause. The goal: for high school and university students to design assistive technology for people with physical or mental impairments that uses an Arduino MKR1000. You can find more details here.
Indiegogo Doubles Down on Supporting Chinese Innovators
Crowdfunding platform Indiegogo kicked off a major effort this week called the China Global Fast-Track Program, with the goal of supporting China-based innovators.
The program launched with an event called the Official Indiegogo China Launch Summit in Shenzhen.“Indiegogo has team members in China and North America to support your product launch,” said Allen Zang, the founder of headphone maker Crazybaby(@crazybabyaudio). “They respect entrepreneurs from China and other areas in Asia, and provide many resources early on.”
Indiegogo CEO David Mandelbrot (@davidman) made a stop in Shenzhen for the launch, shepherding in the launch and taking time out for a Hardware…
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