The e-NABLE Community – Robotic 3D Prosthetics Enables the Future of Disabled

“When given the choice between right or being kind, choose kind.” Dr. Wayne Dyer

In 2011, mechanical special effects artist Ivan Owen collaborated to solve the challenge of finger prosthetics for growing children in Africa by using low-cost 3D printing and designs. As the original creator of the world’s first 3D printed mechanical hand, Ivan decided to create an open source license in 2013 instead of patenting his design, paving the way for the creation and collaboration of the e-NABLE volunteer community to enable our future.

e-NABLE does not sell these devices but encourages parents and individuals to create them on their own, guides them in the building process and prints parts for those that need them. In 4 years, e-NABLE has become a global network of volunteers who are using their 3D printers, design skills, and personal time to create free 3D printed prosthetic hands for those in need– with the goal of providing them to underserved populations around the world. Volunteers can be found in more than 100 countries across the globe, matching kids who need prosthetics with people who can make them. They have delivered about 1800 hands, mostly to children who could not afford expensive prostheses in underserved communities as an alternative.

The Global e-NABLE Community

With the e-NABLE Community of volunteers growing rapidly over the past 2 years, e-NABLE has become a global movement formed by students, groups, libraries, schools and makerspaces, who are all participating in creating free 3D printed hands and arms for those in need. Indeed, this project has been incorporated into over 1000 schools worldwide, as STEM based service learning projects in classrooms, robot labs about using their creativity to change the lives of others in a way they might not have imagined. Welcome to join this e-NABLE Community!

Source of Information & Photo: e-NABLE