Slight Obsession With Frugal Innovation...

Coming out of last weeks class--and finishing this weeks reading--made me increasingly interested in this idea of "frugal innovation." The idea of using our minds--while minimizing cost(s)--to help those who need it most is both necessary and very possible. This is proven by people like, Nicholas Negroponte, who has shifted the mindset of all those involved with wireless computing. He is just one of the many leaders in this fight to use innovation to increase the quality of life in the undeserved regions of the world.

As I looked for which frugal innovation sparked my interest the most, my procrastination searches led me to innovations on the medical side. Physicist, Joshua Silver, http://www.vdw.ox.ac.uk/joshsilver.htm sparked my interest in the innovations aimed at helping those without access to adequate medical attention.

I had been looking at figures on the increasing amount of people infected with the HIV/AIDS--particularly in sub-Saharan Africa--and am continuously startled. How is it that we know of the AIDS death toll and still can't put the brakes on this rapidly spreading disease? Just to give a glimpse to those who don't know the spreading is rapid beyond imagination; 20,439,023 people have contracted HIV/AIDS THIS YEAR IN sub-Saharan Africa ALONE! http://www.vdw.ox.ac.uk/joshsilver.htm

This startling number is due to reasons like, "stigma, lack of education, poverty and transport difficulties." --http://www.avert.org/aids-africa-questions.htm

To address a few of these concerns, Katherine Klapperich, and her students at Boston University have created a portable DNA purifier [http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22980/]. This wireless/portable device [PICTURED ABOVE] easily extracts DNA from human fluids without using an electric source.The device is meant specifically for our underdeveloped countries because unlike here in the United States, getting tested is neither normal nor easy in many other places.

In sub-Saharran Africa--even when blood is taken--transporting the blood is very difficult as it must refrigerated. This device grants doctors with the ability to examine a quality sample, even in places where refrigeration isn't possible. Professors at MIT are currently finalizing a prototype of this machine.

If this could increase the small percentage of those who actually get tested/properly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, then it is a great success. There is an obvious need when in some sub-Saharan African Countries, where less than 10% of adults have been tested in the past 12 months.
I ask you guys, where else can this type of socially focused innovation have its biggest impact? I happened to be interested in eliminating the spread of this terrible virus but I am sure there are thousands of other populations dealing with some type of issue which can be minimized by innovation. I am also sure that everyone reading can think of at least one issue, in particular that bothers them. I hope we continue to talk about what great thinkers are doing for people who desperately need them, as well as think of places needing a great thinker like those discussed above.

As a note: that figure of 20,439,023 has increased by 127 people in the past 5 minutes.