SMRTS Seminar Series - Reverse Innovation: A Case Study

The largest trial of 3D printed lower-limb prosthetic and orthotic devices ever done is currently underway. Partnering with three hospitals and training centres in three different countries, Nia Technologies (http://www.niatech.org) is currently testing its 3D scanning, design, and printing solutions. By the end of the study, approximately 210 users will have been fitted with devices such as prosthetic legs and ankle-foot braces. What may be surprising to some is that this work is being carried out in clinics in Uganda, Tanzania, and Cambodia, rather than in hospitals in North America or Europe.

In this talk, Matt Ratto, Chief Scientist of Nia Technologies and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, will explore some of the innovative aspects of this project. These aspects include a deep connection to clinicians/users, an iterative process of moving from research to product, and the incorporation of social values and commitments to social justice drawn from humanistic and social science perspectives on technology. Ratto will also detail how 3DPrintabilty has the potential to operate as a ‘reverse innovation’, with insights and technologies moving from developing world to developed world sites.

Dr. Matt Ratto is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto and directs the Semaphore Research cluster on Inclusive Design, Mobile and Pervasive Computing and, as part of Semaphore, the Critical Making lab. He coined the term ‘critical making” in 2007 to describe work that combines humanities insights and engineering practices, and has published extensively on this concept. A current project involves the development of a cost-effective software and hardware toolchain for the scanning, design, and 3D printing of lower-limb prostheses for use in the developing world. This work is currently being scaled and extended by non-profit Nia Technologies and funded by Grand Challenges Canada, CBM Canada, Google Foundation, and Autodesk Foundation. Recent publications include ‘Making at the End of Nature”, the cover article for Sept-Oct 2016 issue of ACM Interactions - http://interactions.acm.org/archive/view/september-october-2016/making-at-the-end-of-nature.

FAQs

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Please contact training@agewell-nce.ca with any questions or concerns.

Where is this talk being held?

This talk will be held in-person at Toronto Rehab Institute (550 University Avenue) as well as online. For those selecting online attendance, webinar details will be emailed separately.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No.

I am not an AGE-WELL member, may I attend?

Of course! The SMRTS Seminars Program is a multi-network training initiative involving 10 national and provincial organizations.