Open-source engineering design for global health[edit | edit source]
The aim is to develop medical system design specifications collaboratively and have design iterations made public to make the most of public-access, feedback from multiple users, collaboration on design improvements and increased participation in design from global users.
Basic design principles[edit | edit source]
- Optimise designs to be a simple as possible in their production
- Optimise designs to be as easy as possible to maintain
- Any design that can be lifted by one person and transported behind the passenger seat of a 4WD is probably a good design
- Any design that can be made from standardised, off-the-shelf parts is probably a good design
- Any design that uses parts that can be found in an automotive shop can probably be maintained anywhere on the planet
- A design that is self-explanatory, requires no training to assemble and operate, whose function is obvious to the untrained observer is probably a good design
- Brain-power and labour is inexpensive; specialised materials and manufacturing is expensive
- One button is good; no buttons is better
- Use engineering to solve people's problems - don't depend on user-training to solve engineering problems
- Designs need to look and feel good for people to use them every day
All you need is a good kitchen with power, water, bench space, storage, heating, cooling and good lighting.