BURNABY, BC--(Marketwired - August 21, 2017) - The Neil Squire Society's Makers Making Change initiative, in collaboration with the Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM) Alberta group, is holding the first LipSync Buildathon in Calgary, Alberta on August 25th and 26th, in conjunction with the 2017 TOM:Calgary Makeathon.
High school students and recent undergraduates will be working with technical mentors from TOM:Alberta and Makers Making Change to build over 15 LipSync devices which will be given to quadriplegics living in the Southern Alberta Region.
TIME:
- Friday, August 25th: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
- Saturday, August 26th: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
LOCATION:
- 3536-27 Street NE, Calgary T1Y 5E2
The LipSync is a mouth operated joystick that allows a person with severely limited arm movement to control a computer or Android device utilizing the onscreen cursor and requiring only minimal head and neck movement. It is an open source hardware project funded by Google.org that uses 3D printed parts, an Arduino Micro board, and other electronic parts that can be soldered to create the device.
"Makers have a tremendous opportunity to make change in the world, and can really transform the lives of people with disabilities," says Neil Squire Society's Director of Development Chad Leaman. "We're really excited to be hosting this LipSync buildathon with TOM:Calgary."
Makers Making Change has hosted LipSync Buildathons across Canada and the United States, having produced over 150 LipSyncs ready for use by people with disabilities.
Accessible Media Inc. recently aired a feature about LipSync Buildathons on their show.
About Neil Squire Society
"We use Technology, Knowledge, and Passion to Empower Canadians with Disabilities". The Neil Squire Society is the only national not-for-profit organization in Canada that has for over thirty years empowered Canadians with disabilities through the use of computer-based assistive technologies, research and development, and various employment programs. Through our work, we help our clients remove barriers so that they can live independent lives and become active members of the workplace and our society. Specializing in education and workplace empowerment, the Society has served over 35,000 people since 1984.
About Makers Making Change
Makers Making Change is a new initiative by the Neil Squire Society. It will connect Makers to people with disabilities, to create access solutions. It will also feature a catalogue of various open-source assistive technology projects, with parts, instructions and reviews to support makers and people with disabilities. Their first major project is the LipSync.
About TOM
TOM is a global organization based in Israel that facilitates grassroots events like this one around the globe. 'Tikkun Olam' is a Hebrew concept that means "repairing the world". Since its founding in 2014, TOM makeathons have come to San Francisco, Sao Paolo, Tel Aviv and Saigon. TOM events will often partner with local businesses and schools to provide the best experience possible.
Distribution of this press release was generously donated by Marketwired.
Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/8/21/11G144390/Images/Makers-Making-Change-Logo-9aeb4daf7352b275954a62bef47ca3ee.jpg
Contact Information:
For Further Information, please contact
Ivan Gourlay
604.473.9363
ivang@neilsquire.ca
