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TEDGlobal 2011: Simple tech aids developing world | TEDGlobal 2011: Simple tech aids developing world |
(about 1 month later) | |
By Jane Wakefield Technology reporter, TEDGlobal, Edinburgh | By Jane Wakefield Technology reporter, TEDGlobal, Edinburgh |
TEDGlobal is a conference which puts the sharing of good ideas at the heart of its ethos. | TEDGlobal is a conference which puts the sharing of good ideas at the heart of its ethos. |
Many of those ideas are about making improvements to everyday lives. | Many of those ideas are about making improvements to everyday lives. |
Each year the TED organisation chooses a group of new fellows - individuals whose ideas it regards as particularly inspiring. | Each year the TED organisation chooses a group of new fellows - individuals whose ideas it regards as particularly inspiring. |
The BBC has talked to three of them, all of whom share a desire to transform lives in the developing world. | The BBC has talked to three of them, all of whom share a desire to transform lives in the developing world. |
MEDICAL TOYS | MEDICAL TOYS |
Jose Gomez-Marquez has taken an unusual approach to making medical devices for the developing world | Jose Gomez-Marquez has taken an unusual approach to making medical devices for the developing world |
Rather than stripping down complex medical equipment, he uses toy guns and Lego. | Rather than stripping down complex medical equipment, he uses toy guns and Lego. |
"Toys have amazing mechanical parts. To get a part made from scratch could cost hundreds of dollars but I can go to a market and find toys very cheaply," he said. | "Toys have amazing mechanical parts. To get a part made from scratch could cost hundreds of dollars but I can go to a market and find toys very cheaply," he said. |
So the trigger of a toy gun can be taken apart and attached to an IV drip to provide a sound alert when the drip is running low. | So the trigger of a toy gun can be taken apart and attached to an IV drip to provide a sound alert when the drip is running low. |
Lego bricks can be moulded to create tiny conduits for medicines in simplified labs-on-chips. | Lego bricks can be moulded to create tiny conduits for medicines in simplified labs-on-chips. |
And nebulizers can be made out of bicycle pumps. | And nebulizers can be made out of bicycle pumps. |
Mashing up technology is the key to his Innovations in International Health team which is based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). | |
Collaboration with the wider medical community is also important, but the key to the success of his designs is talking to those on the ground who will use the equipment. | Collaboration with the wider medical community is also important, but the key to the success of his designs is talking to those on the ground who will use the equipment. |
By cooperation with health care workers in Nicaragua, Mr Gomez-Marquez and his team at MIT came up with a system to persuade TB patients to take the medicines they needed to help cure them. | |
Health workers suggested that a good incentive would be offering patients mobile phone top-ups, so the team designed test strips which, once used, revealed a code which people could text to receive phone credits. | |
Mr Gomez-Marquez is also creating kits for field workers, with a range of parts that they can use to build their own makeshift medical equipment. | Mr Gomez-Marquez is also creating kits for field workers, with a range of parts that they can use to build their own makeshift medical equipment. |
"I couldn't build them a clinic but I can provide them with a Lego kit for them to make their own devices," he said. | "I couldn't build them a clinic but I can provide them with a Lego kit for them to make their own devices," he said. |
AFRICAN TRADE | AFRICAN TRADE |
Femi Akinde decided to create SlimTrader when he realised that he couldn't buy a plane ticket online when he was in Africa. | Femi Akinde decided to create SlimTrader when he realised that he couldn't buy a plane ticket online when he was in Africa. |
"Consumers aren't able to access data, and goods and services don't tend to be online anyway," he said. | "Consumers aren't able to access data, and goods and services don't tend to be online anyway," he said. |
To combat this dual problem, Mr Akinde decided to link retailers with customers via a platform that everyone could access - text messaging. | To combat this dual problem, Mr Akinde decided to link retailers with customers via a platform that everyone could access - text messaging. |
SlimTrade is in the early stages of development but hopes to launch in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria over the coming months. | SlimTrade is in the early stages of development but hopes to launch in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria over the coming months. |
The service will allow, for instance, a farmer trying to source fertilizer to send a text message and get a response from SlimTrader outlining all the distributors near to where he lives. | The service will allow, for instance, a farmer trying to source fertilizer to send a text message and get a response from SlimTrader outlining all the distributors near to where he lives. |
"He can find someone who is a credited distributor so he knows he won't be sold fake fertilizer, which is a very big problem. And he doesn't have to leave his house," explained Mr Akinde. | "He can find someone who is a credited distributor so he knows he won't be sold fake fertilizer, which is a very big problem. And he doesn't have to leave his house," explained Mr Akinde. |
Mobile phone usage is exploding in Africa and it has allowed mobile banking to take off, bringing previously undreamt of financial services to people. | Mobile phone usage is exploding in Africa and it has allowed mobile banking to take off, bringing previously undreamt of financial services to people. |
By tying businesses to customers in a similar way, one of the biggest gaps between the developing and developed world can be closed, explains Mr Akinde. | By tying businesses to customers in a similar way, one of the biggest gaps between the developing and developed world can be closed, explains Mr Akinde. |
"Buying online is something the Western world takes for granted. I don't buy anything unless I can find it online," he said. | "Buying online is something the Western world takes for granted. I don't buy anything unless I can find it online," he said. |
And in Africa, instant access to a range of services can be really transformational. | And in Africa, instant access to a range of services can be really transformational. |
"It means people can plan a trip ahead of time and they won't have to travel great distances and not know whether they are going to find what they want at the end," he said. | "It means people can plan a trip ahead of time and they won't have to travel great distances and not know whether they are going to find what they want at the end," he said. |
LIGHTS ON | LIGHTS ON |
In Guatemala, 20% of the population has no access to electricity. | In Guatemala, 20% of the population has no access to electricity. |
It was not a problem that affected Manuel Aguilar who had moved to the US to study and then went on to work in the financial markets. | It was not a problem that affected Manuel Aguilar who had moved to the US to study and then went on to work in the financial markets. |
But one day he had a lightbulb moment. | But one day he had a lightbulb moment. |
"I was helping rich people get richer and I thought my skills could be better used," he said. | "I was helping rich people get richer and I thought my skills could be better used," he said. |
Back home in Guatemala, he founded Quetsol, an energy company offering a simple solution to the lack of electricity. | Back home in Guatemala, he founded Quetsol, an energy company offering a simple solution to the lack of electricity. |
The firm makes kits, which consists of a battery, an LED lightbulb and a small solar panel. So far it has sold 1,000. | The firm makes kits, which consists of a battery, an LED lightbulb and a small solar panel. So far it has sold 1,000. |
The battery also offers a socket which allows people to charge their mobile phones, something that was far from easy before. | The battery also offers a socket which allows people to charge their mobile phones, something that was far from easy before. |
"People used to have to walk two hours to charge their phones and pay for it," said Mr Aguilar. | "People used to have to walk two hours to charge their phones and pay for it," said Mr Aguilar. |
In the next few months Quetsol plans to launch a 30 watt battery which will allow people to power a computer. | In the next few months Quetsol plans to launch a 30 watt battery which will allow people to power a computer. |
"It will give families internet access and education for their kids," said Mr Aguilar. | "It will give families internet access and education for their kids," said Mr Aguilar. |
At £240, the kit isn't cheap but the company had done a deal with the biggest bank in Guatemala which allows people to pay $13 a month. | At £240, the kit isn't cheap but the company had done a deal with the biggest bank in Guatemala which allows people to pay $13 a month. |
"That is what they would have spent on candles," said Mr Aguilar. | "That is what they would have spent on candles," said Mr Aguilar. |
Despite the surprising simplicity of the kit, there is little to rival it in the country and Mr Aguilar hopes his personal approach will pay dividends. | Despite the surprising simplicity of the kit, there is little to rival it in the country and Mr Aguilar hopes his personal approach will pay dividends. |
His mobile phone number is printed on the back of the battery pack and he prides himself on customer service. | His mobile phone number is printed on the back of the battery pack and he prides himself on customer service. |
"If something is wrong with the kit we tell them to take it back to where they bought it and they will get a new one. They have never had service like this before. It is about treating the customer with respect," he said. | "If something is wrong with the kit we tell them to take it back to where they bought it and they will get a new one. They have never had service like this before. It is about treating the customer with respect," he said. |
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