RSS
[Photo from Godisa]
Approximately 10% of the world population has a disabling hearing impairment, and 80% of them live in developing countries. The most expensive part of a hearing aid is the battery, which needs to be continually replaced. The Solar Aid solar-powered hearing-aid battery recharger, developed in Botswana, helps those with hearing disabilities afford to continue in school and participate in economy activity. More than 7,000 units are in use in South America, Central America, Africa, and Asia. And because batteries are generally expensive everywhere, Godisa intends to make this affordable technology widely available not just in the developing countries but also in the United States and Europe.
[Via the other 90%]
A really good news for those who need hearing aids
Reply to this comment
So if the lights go out, not only can you not see, but you're deaf as well?
Yes, yes, I know.
Reply to this comment
It's not a solar hearing aid: it's a solar battery charger for hearing aids. This is important in the developing world, (Botswana and the surrounding region in this case) where batteries and or AC power may not be right around the corner.
The interesting part is that it is actually open source.
See this link for more info.
http://cocolico.info/design/this-solar-rechargeable-hearing-aid-is-open-source
Reply to this comment
A new solar charger , plus first rechargeble digital low cost hearing aids and rechargeable size #13, #675 batteries which costs the same as regular batteries but last 2-3 years are now being produced by workers who are deaf from Brazil as well as those who used to work at Godisa. This is the first deaf to deaf, South- South technical training program, sponsored by Lemelson Foundation. It is also an Ashoka project.
The name of the project is Solar Ear.
Reply to this comment