Reclaiming high technology: Fighting for the hardware commons
A Lecture by Dr. Tarek Loubani
Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
6 PM- 7:30 PM
Arts West Arts 215
Department of Art History and Communication Studies
Dr. Tarek Loubani is a Palestinian-Canadian physician who works in London, Ont. and in the Gaza Strip. As the head of the Glia Project, Dr. Loubani designs and provides high quality free/open source medical equipment to impoverished areas in need. His recently developed 3D printed stethoscope, which matches the performance of the market leading model at a fraction of the cost, is helping to alleviate the shortage of basic medical supplies in Gaza caused by the eight-year blockade.
Dr. Loubani is also behind Empower GAZA, a crowdfunded project that brings solar power to hospitals in Gaza facing unpredictable power cuts. He continues to develop inexpensive and non-proprietary alternatives to inaccessible medical devices, now building a 3D printed pulse oximeter, a machine that measures the oxygen levels in blood, and an electrocardiogram.
Read article about the 3D printer
Dr. Tarek Loubani uses 3D printer to overcome Gaza stethoscope shortage, CBC News, September 10, 2015