People with disabilities

I visited a village today, after a successful user testing with individuals with disabilities. And then, we met a whole other cohort of individuals with disabilities that we could not address the needs of. Saving the world isn't easy.

Leg sacrifice

I sleep under a mosquito net to keep mosquitoes (and malaria) out. Except, when the mosquito is on the INSIDE of the net, breathing the same air you do, I get really paranoid...especially when it buzzes you, or you think it's going to bite you all night long. So I have to distract it away from my face and ears by feeding it my leg. I mean, if you are going to take a bite, take it from there.

Things on backs on bikes

In Uganda, everyone rides a bicycle or motorbike. And then, they all come up with inventive/dangerous ways to carry more things than they should on their vehicles. Here's just a few, but believe me, nothing is too large or heavy to carry on the back of a bicycle.

and then the Cactus said

The landscape of Uganda is full of green islands in yellow savanna with immense cactus trees, and all I can think of is how it would like a hug.

Colours of the wind

The windows are open. We are cruising through the African savanna. The wind running through your hair is such a great feeling.

KADUPEDI board meeting

Attended a board meeting out of formality. The meeting was held sitting in a circle under a tree, talk about being corporate!

In kasese

I've got no pictures because the tablet won't upload any on blogger but an update..., I am in uganda and met kio, the welder who is building all our prototypes. The mill was set up, and i had alignment issues, but we sort of managed to fix them temporarily and locate the issues with the thing. This morning I went and bought millet from a local shop and tried to grind that today. It turns out the grains are too tiny and my plates are too coarse to grind millet. Not only that, but the millet was coming out both ends of the mill, so I will need some sort of seal and something to keep the center axel straight. A visit to the machinist should fix that. Although, I feel that I have to address all these technical issues before I can test the model, and work on the design problem but the reality is probably not true. Any sort of general rig that gets the idea across should work too, only both language and culture are barriers. So next week we will be going to the villages to test our prototypes, and I have a lot of work to do. Not just about solving technical issues, but making it actually useable and comfortable for the disabled person. I've also noticed kids just stand next to it and grind grains with one hand. Haha perhaps I will only need a one hand grinder after all.
On a less tired sounding note, the concept is doing really well, the people in the villages are really excited because its something relevant for them. The women were interested and word has gotten around about all the projects we are working on. Of course the bottom line is cost, but we will get there. So the opportunity the concept has created is a culturally valid one. Hoorah!

Alright and that is all folks, progress !

The goat king

My friend spotted this event when we were driving across the city from Kampala to Kasese, I wish I had my eyes open!

distraction

I was sitting in a meeting and distracted by the goat

At a bar in Amsterdam

With a series of unplanned events, we stopped in Amsterdam for a night and went to the coziest "brown bar" I know.

En route to Amsterdam/Uganda (by air)

Flying to Uganda I first have to stop in Amsterdam (no complaints here). I requested a window seat, but then proceeded to sleep through most of the flight. I woke up near the Netherlands and from up above, there are so many little streams and rivers in this little country, they all run silvery smooth like mirrors. I was half-expecting to see the airplane itself reflected in one of them. The sky is in the ground!

Don't blink

In a lecture, falling asleep, but trying not to. I want to make faces, but I think that would just be distracting for the speaker.

fix

It's allmostttttttt working!

Notes on Lecture by guest Tim Antoniuk

The notes are a mess, but the topic was, "Big design from small design centers, Hybridity and the creative economy" in which he talked a lot about design being a messy process and working with Drooglabs.

But, it's coming along! I've been offering grain grinding services to classmates, but it seems that nobody here needs anything ground.