Marble Surface

Steve Smith

Writer of fast-moving action/adventures

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Home

  • My Blog

  • About

  • Contact

  • Gallery

  • Smithwrites

  •  

    Use tab to navigate through the menu items.
    Prosthetics - compare the market!
    Prosthetics - compare the market!
    A comparison of the various prostheses available today - the good, the not-so-good and the expensive.
    Homemade prosthetics
    Homemade prosthetics
    This is what amputees will do in the developing world to create a prosthesis when no other option is available.
    High-mobility/low cost prosthetics
    High-mobility/low cost prosthetics
    IRT aims to produce high-mobility/low-cost prosthetics for the developing world. The leg is the invention of professional inventor Ed Pennington-Ridge. It has the following amzing advantages over other equivalents in the developing world:
    - It bends at the ankle, mirroring the functions of a real leg.
    - At under 4100 per limb, it is incredibly cheap to produce.
    - With simple machine tools, it can be manufactured in the country of need.
    - Initial trials revela a 95% satisfaction rating: lighter, faster, cheaper, more mobile.
    In many cases, across the developing world, artificial limbs are either unavailable, too expensive, or handmade.
    Pre-used legs for Africa.
    Pre-used legs for Africa.
    The situation regarding the provision of prosthetic legs for the developing world is so desperate, that even pre-used limbs are being shipped to Africa to fill the gap.
    More pre-used limbs for Africa.
    More pre-used limbs for Africa.
    Different foot types.
    Different foot types.
    This image shows three of the artificial foot types available. The lightweight model in black is made from carbon-fibre. It replicates a normal gait extremely well, and is available in the West foir sums in excess of $3,500. The brown foot, made of wood, is the most common type found in the developing world. It doesn't flex at the ankle. Whilst being better than nothing, it is effectively a 'stabiliser' on a peg-leg. The green/silver leg is the DC-3 being developed by International Refugee Trust. It can be produced for under $100. It flexes at the ankle and replicates a normal gait very well.
    Two men walking with the DC-3.
    Two men walking with the DC-3.
    The DC-3 was trialled in Tanzania with 20 beneficiaries. It received a 95% approval rating: faster, lighter, more mobile over steep and rough terrain.
    Woman walking with the DC-3.
    Woman walking with the DC-3.
    Here is the DC-3 being trialled successfully in Tanzania.
    Landmine victim.
    Landmine victim.
    Photograph courtesy of United Nations.
    Landmine victim -DRC.
    Landmine victim -DRC.
    Photograph courtesy of United Nations.
    Landmine victims - South Sudan.
    Landmine victims - South Sudan.
    Photograph courtesy of United Nations.
    Young amputee victim of the Afghan War.
    Young amputee victim of the Afghan War.
    Photograph by Giles Duley.
    This really works!
    This really works!
    Explaining the DC-3 prosthetic leg to an audience of supporters.
    Out of gallery

    Let me know what's on your mind

    Thanks for submitting!

    © 2023 by Turning Heads. Proudly created with Wix.com