Ground Worx

GRND Lab on PSFK

2010-06-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Over the next few weeks, PSFK is running a trends research and innovation project in association with UNICEF. They have been researching the development of key trends that impact health and well-being and then using their findings to develop with partners concepts that UNICEF and like-minded organizations could consider deploying across the world.

We were approached to answer a couple of questions about our work with Device X in collaboration with UNICEF and this is the article!

Great work and many thanks to PSFK! See the post below:

Future of Health: Preliminary Diagnoses For Remote Health Care Workers

New Datalogger that Prints

2010-05-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

Based on some of the findings from Device X user testing trip to Uganda, we came up with an Arduino based datalogger that can print on most USB HP and Epson printers without the use of drivers or a computer.

It's a stand alone datalogger that can save data, store it, send it via SMS text message and can print it on an actual USB printer for physical record keeping. It runs on 9V battery and it's rugged and portable, created specifically with field workers' needs in mind, to allow for effective data collection in any field, from medical data to wildlife tracking data and more!

A short video of the device connected to a printer!

Lion Tracking Collars Progress!

2010-05-12T14:18:00.001-07:00

From the entire GRND Lab Team, our most sincere 'THANK YOU' to all of our Backers and to everyone who has showed interest in our open source lion tracking project, we are very humbled by all of your support and effort in helping us spread the word and reaching our goal!

We have been really busy over the past few weeks and wanted to share some snapshots of our progress!

Again thanks a lot for all your messages, comments, emails and support!
We couldn't have done this without YOU.
Eternally grateful and yours truly,

GRND Lab Team

p.s. Tokens coming soon!

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Da tutti noi del GRND Lab, il più sentito 'GRAZIE MILLE' a tutti i nostri Backers e a tutti coloro che hanno dimostrato interesse nel nostro progetto, siamo estremamente riconoscienti a tutti per il vostro supporto e per i vostri sforzi compiuti nel divulgare la voce e nell' aiutarci a raggiungere il nostro obiettivo!

Ultimamente ci siamo tenuti molto impegnati e volevamo condividere alcuni frammenti del nostro progresso con voi!

Ancora grazie mille per i messaggi, i commenti, email e per il vostro supporto!
Non saremmo riusciti a fare tutto questo senza di VOI.
Vi saremmo per sempre grati,

GRND Lab Team

p.s. I regali arriveranno presto!

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PROGRESS/PROGRESSO

We have been sawing the collars and experimenting with different natural materials. Stiamo sperimentando con diversi materiali naturali e diverse tecniche per cucire i collari.

We have been preparing custom boards for our elecronics. Abbiamo preparato le basi per i nostri circuiti elettronici.

We have been surface mounting really tiny electronic components! Stiamo sperimentando con diverse tecniche di assemblaggio e componenti piccolissimi!

We have been testing our circuits! Stiamo testando i circuiti e preparando i codici di programmazione!

Kickstarter Proposal in Italiano

2010-03-06T20:29:00.000-08:00

L'Obiettivo:
Raccogliere $9000 in due mesi, entro il 11 Maggio 2010 a mezzanotte.

Il Progetto:
Questa richiesta di aiuto è per concederci la possibilità di produrre un prototipo per un collare elettronico open source per localizzare animali in pericolo. Questo sistema ha lo scopo di salvaguardare gli ultimi 2000 leoni rimasti in Kenya ed è la continuazione di una collaborazione con il programma Lion Guardians e il gruppo di ricerca Living With Lions. Queste iniziative lavorano nel Sud del Kenya per proteggere non solo gli ultimi leoni ma anche la popolazione degli allevatori Maasai. Questi 9000$ ci aiuteranno a coprire il costo dei materiali e le spese di viaggio per testare il prototipo e la mano d'opera di un team specializzato. Questo progetto include due componenti principali: un sistema di localizzazione che utilizza la tecnologia mobile GSM/GPS per individuare e monitorare la fauna, e la documentazione open source del progetto.

Questa idea nasce da un viaggio precedente in Kenya, durante il quale Justin Downs di GRND Lab ha costruito una casa sull'albero per il campo di ricerca dei Lion Guardians, servito da elettricità prodotta da un sistema di pannelli fotovoltaici. Il programma dei Lion Guardians si concentra sulla mediazione del conflitto tra gli allevatori Maasai e i leoni che gli stessi Maasai avvelenano per vendicare le loro perdite di bestiame, causando la sparizione della specie in cattività.

La tecnologia coinvolta in questo prototipo e la sua programmazione open source sono state concepite appositamente per agevolare lo scambio di dati e informazioni tra ricercatori di diversi ambienti, e chiunque interessato in tecnologie di localizzazione o in fauna del Sud del Kenya. La principale differenza tra la nostra soluzione e i collari esistenti sul mercato oggi, è la sua natura open source che significa una maggior accessibilità ad una communità più estesa, se applicata può ridurre i costi di produzione e velocizzare l'innovazione in generale.

Se dovessimo riuscire a raggiungere l'obiettivo di 9000$, le donazioni successive verrano donate direttamente a Lion Guardians per sponsorizzare un guardiano per dodici mesi.

Ti prego, qualsiasi aiuto e supporto tu abbia voglia di dare a questo progetto non solo verrà molto apprezzato, ma in cambio ti terremo aggiornato/a sugli sviluppi e ti invieremo un articolo legato al progetto per dimostrarti la nostra riconoscenza.

Donazioni:
Per 5$ o più:
Riceverai la newsletter del GRND Lab + pubblico ringraziamento per la donazione sul nostro blog/website + una cartolina di ringraziamento scritta a mano su carta fatta di... di elefante!

Per 25$ o più:
Riceverai la newsletter del GRND Lab + pubblico ringraziamento per la donazione sul nostro blog/website + un set di adesivi del GRND Lab.

Per 50$ o più:
Riceverai la newsletter del GRND Lab + pubblico ringraziamento per la donazione sul nostro blog/website + una maglietta sampata in cotone organico del GRND Lab.

Per 100$ o più:
Riceverai la newsletter del GRND Lab + pubblico ringraziamento per la donazione sul nostro blog/website + un collare personalizzato per animali con targhetta elettronica.

Per 250$ o più:
Riceverai la newsletter del GRND Lab + pubblico ringraziamento per la donazione sul nostro blog/website + un braccialetto originale creato dal popolo Maasai.

Per 500$ o più:
Riceverai la newsletter del GRND Lab + pubblico ringraziamento per la donazione sul nostro blog/website + un libro di fotografie a colori della fauna degli altopiani del Kenya, fatte da Justin durante il viaggio per testare il prototipo.

Per 1000$ o più:
Riceverai la newsletter del GRND Lab + pubblico ringraziamento per la donazione sul nostro blog/website + un'impressione di un'autentica impronta di leone dal campo del Kenya.

Per favore aiutateci!

Kickstarter Proposal for the Lion Tracking Collars!

2010-03-06T15:25:00.000-08:00

We have recently launched an important fund-raise to prototype an open source lion tracking collar system. Please help us in any way you can to make this project come to life! Thanks a lot for everyone's support. We, and the lions, appreciate it!

GRND Lab and Device X at Greener Gadgets!

2010-02-03T13:04:00.000-08:00

Device X has been selected as a finalist in the New York Greener Gadgets competition for 2010, please cast your vote for us online, before February 25th, at:

http://www.greenergadgets.com/index.php/design-competition/

Or click on the image below to be directed to their website.

Exercise Web Democracy by Voting Today!

GRND Lab in Uganda with Device X

2010-01-29T10:00:00.000-08:00

In December 2009, GRND Lab traveled to Kampala, Uganda with the intent of establishing the validity of employing Device X or an analogous networked electronic device in order to gather accurate, high volume data rapidly from the field, especially in areas where it is not feasible to do so efficiently at this time, because of distances, lack of network coverage, lack of electricity and the highly hazardous delays involved in physically processing and transporting paper data.

Two community health care workers testing Device X at the Kiruddu Health Center.

In those twelve days, GRND Lab conducted an extensive research in the medical field and began to explore contacts and applications for Device X in the field of education, emergency relief and aids distribution as well. Through observation and through interviewing community health care workers, representatives of different departments within the UNICEF Uganda Country office, representatives of Government institutions, members of other not-for-profit organizations and NGOs active on the Ugandan territory, GRND Lab compiled a list of important discoveries that will constitute the basis for the next steps to take, in the development of this device.

Uganda December 2009

View more presentations from GRND Lab LLC.

GRND Lab's Presentation in Kampala, Uganda

2010-01-26T15:02:00.000-08:00

Most recent presentation of Device X and the research behind it. This presentation was given in December in Kampala, Uganda at the UNICEF Uganda Country Office.

Device X Uganda Presentation

View more presentations from GRND Lab LLC.

GRND Lab on La7 TV InnovatiON!

2010-01-15T00:43:00.000-08:00

The Italian TV channel La7 shows a day in the life of GRND Lab during their technology weekly program called InnovatiON. To see the full episode, click here!

Grazie! Thank you so much, for such a wonderful video and interview! [In Italian].

GRND Lab on Repubblica.it!

2010-01-14T23:55:00.000-08:00

La Repubblica, major Italian daily newspaper, published a story on their blog about GRND Lab's projects; particularly the collaboration with Unicef and the creation of Device X. La Repubblica interviewed Benedetta who was born and raised in Parma Italy.

Click on the image above to read the full article [in Italian].

CNN Money interviews GRND Lab!

2009-11-06T12:22:00.000-08:00

CNN Money found what GRND Lab does interesting and ran a story on our mobile health device in partnership with UNICEF. Thanks everyone for all the efforts in making this happen!

Device X Phase 2

2009-11-04T15:40:00.000-08:00

We have been really busy and excited at the Lab because we are now finishing the first full version of the prototype for the mobile health device for health clinics in Uganda in partnership with UNICEF.

New prototype.

New prototype on, example of a menu screen with ATM style buttons.

This version, finally includes all the hardware and software capabilities such as GSM/GPRS module, ability to join a specific network and to send SMS text messages to a given server and many more improvements.

Detail of the ON/OFF switch and the power plug for external power supply.

Right side shows the volume knob and the LED power meter.

Back panel shows GSM antenna and back plugs for battery compartment, USB and SD card access and SIM card access.

The device has an improved flow with many options which include checking for signal and signal strength, ability to set proper cellular band and send free form text messages on top of the diagnosis and patient registration text messages that are pre-formatted by the device itself.

Example of a received SMS message from the device with full patient personal information and medical symptoms and diagnosis.

And here's a video of Device X working. It shows you how to join a server, send a free form text message, do patient diagnosis, pull up a patient record and upload the data. And it speaks British English now!

Device X ♥s RapidSMS

2009-10-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

Device X with integrated GSM module is now finally starting to get acquainted with RapidSMS and the RapidResponse interface. We still have a bit more work to do in order to really customize RapidSMS to match our formatting, but for now just the fact that the server is running properly and that our text messages are appearing in the log, is progress! The front end also started charting out our MUAC data, check out the screenshot below!

RapidSMS server screenshot with recent event and message logs. Thanks to Seth Herr and Evan Wheeler at Unicef and Matt Berg for all their help and support.

Clay Shirky's Talk for ITP 30 includes GRND Lab

2009-10-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

Clay Shirky mentioned our Device X prototype during his brilliant speech the ITP 30th anniversary celebration. We 'returned' the favor, by giving a presentation about our progress on the device during his 'Designing for Unicef' class. Thank you ITP and thank you Clay for having us.

Click on the image to be sent to the ITP 30 archives.

Device X Phase 1

2009-10-02T16:51:00.000-07:00

We have been busy making the patient entry device for health clinics in Uganda and we recently presented a new and improved version to the Innovation Team at Unicef.

The new prototype.

The new version includes many improvements from previous versions, including a full Qwerty keyboard for easy typing, which is covered in silicone to help making it dust and weather proof. It also includes a volume knob, a big on/off central switch, and SD card for local storage of information, 3 buttons ATM-style that are programmable for easy navigation, a 4 line nicely readable LCD screen and a LED power meter to know at all times how much battery life the device has.

On the left side you can see the power button and also a plug for a power supply. Anything between 12V and 20V will work great. It also runs on rechargeable AA batteries.

On the right side you can see the volume knob, flush to the surface, and the LED power meter button with 5 LEDs.

The casing is still temporary but much closer to what the final casing will feel like and look like, a nice sloped casing allows for comfortable typing.

The new prototype while on.

These videos are examples of the new flow and gives an idea of the types of diagnosis it is now programmed to give:

Latest Case Prototype

2009-07-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

We have been working hard recently, laser cutting, bolting, drilling and more. Here's the result. A new customized case for the device. This is only a prototype and the final casing will most likely be machined manufactured, but for now this is what we came up with as a fast prototyping solution.

And we went from this:

Preliminary sketches of the improvements necessary for the second version of the device.

To this:

Thanks to Andrew Laska, from RPR, for the SolidWorks effort.

To this:

New case prototype for the device for health clinics in Malawi and Uganda.

Side view of the enclosure. It's slightly sloped in order to be more ergonomic.

The laser cut face of the device, with led power indicator, speaker holes, full qwerty keyboard and three soft keys. Thanks to Ben Le duc Mills for all the wonderful help.

UN-ECOSOC News

2009-07-15T23:36:00.000-07:00

This article only covers some of the innovations showcased by UNICEF at the UN-ECOSOC Conference, but the video presentation of GRND Lab's Patient Data Entry Device, is playing in the photos! And I hope that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon caught a glimpse of it too!

Click here to go to the full article!

Patient Data Entry Device v 0.2 ECOSOC Demo Video

2009-07-15T23:25:00.000-07:00

This is a promotional video that we recently displayed along side a working prototype at the UN-ECOSOC conference in Geneva, Switzerland this month. From July 6th through July 9th our video presentation was displayed at the UNICEF stand for Health Innovations.

Video still.

Patient Data Entry Device v 0.1 for UNICEF

2009-07-15T23:21:00.000-07:00

In April 2008 we completed the very first prototype for the Patient Data Input Device for a health clinics in Malawi, Africa in partnership with the UNICEF Innovation Team.

This device aims to help health care workers in diagnosing patients and then efficiently relaying that information to the patient guardians. It allows the user to input child's vital information such as name, weight, height, middle-upper arm circumference, signs of edema and child's complications in order to receive a prompt preliminary diagnosis of the child's general health status and malnutrition level. The device uses both auditory and written prompts to guide the health care workers through the diagnosis questionnaire, through the registration process for a new patient and a check-up on a previously registered patient. The final spoken diagnosis are translated into local language, so that the guardians can leave the clinic with valuable information and a general understanding about the health status of their child and the necessary care suggestions. The data is stored locally onto SD card and it can be uploaded onto a server through text messages via a GSM/GPRS module. For videos of the device in action, please


The patient data entry device off.

The first prototype is build from sustainable MDF and contains a 4x4 keypad, 16/2 LCD, Arduino, MP3 player module, amplified speaker and is powered from a 9v rechargeable battery.

All the technology is open-source and much of the programming had to do with creating a multi-tap keyboard interface and then programming the data work flow tree of about 30 different questions and 5 different "diagnosis".

Device being tested.

The inside of one of the first prototypes.