Our next ‘conversation that matters’ in the monthly Society, Robots and Us series is talking about prosthetics, powered clothing and exoskeletons. Join us at 6pm PDT on Tuesday March 23rd 2021
Following our COVID-19, Robots and Us series, we’re continuing the conversation about important robotics topics and socio-technical issues. We’ll be inviting domain experts and interesting thinkers to discuss topics relating to robotics innovation, commercialization and inclusivity. Mainly, we’re inviting YOU to share your thoughts about inclusive robotics, what is it? why do we need it? and what do we do to get it? or problems for robotics and pathways forward!
Moderated by Andra Keay of Silicon Valley Robotics
Guest speakers this week:
- Scott Summit, TED Speaker, Industrial Designer
- Michelle Maalouf, Consultant re Aging Technology, ex MySeismic powered clothing
- Hamayal Choudhry, CEO/Founder of SmartArm
- Ken Goldberg, artist and roboticist
Scott Summit, Founder at Ethereal Matter Inc and Bespoke Innovations, Designer, Speaker, Writer.
I founded the venture-backed Bespoke Innovations in 2010, creating the first 3d printed prosthetic fairings (coining the term from a life of motorcycle riding), and exploring the potentials for the then-nascent technology to solve complex and often unaddressed human need. Bespoke looked into printing prosthetic limbs, scoliosis bracing, fracture and post-op bracing (casts), RSI splints, among others.
Bespoke was acquired by 3D Systems, where I served as Design Director for the three years post acquisition. There, we explored 3d printing as it relates to food, space travel, acoustics, medicine, F1, rocketry, fine art, consumer goods, architecture – the list gets long.
I am now pursuing a startup that intends to address the need for change in the fitness world. By infusing VR, haptics, AI and robotics into a fitness regimen, we stand to revolutionize the way we work out, to the benefit of all.
Michelle Maalouf, Corporate Development for Ageing and Senior Care
Michelle Maalouf was most recently Head of Market Operations at Seismic where she brought Powered Clothing to the global market through business development, strategy, sales, marketing, PR, operations, project management and events. Michelle’s academic background involves performing patented, published, and award winning research developing tools for personalized medicine at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics. Post-academia, Michelle’s career has been centered around the health and well-being of the aging demographic.
Prior to joining Seismic, Michelle was part of the founding team at Aging2.0, a global innovation platform that strives to accelerate innovation to address the biggest challenges and opportunities in aging. Michelle grew the company from the ground up, playing a pivotal role in strategic efforts directing accelerator programs, facilitating the growth of the community to 30k+ subscribers, hosting over 400+ events, forming 100+ global chapters, supporting an aging-focused venture fund, and producing Aging2.0’s first ever conference, now an annual event attended by 1000+ people. Michelle has also been an independent consultant and advisor for over 15 large and small companies in the health and aging space including UC Berkeley, Genesis Rehab, Sompo Digital Labs, CareAcademy, and Equinox. She has spoken at dozens of highly regarded events focused on health and aging innovations. Michelle is currently working for Juniper Senior Living Communities.
Hamayal Choudhry, Cofounder & CEO Smartarm
Award-winning Social Entrepreneur, TEDx & Keynote Speaker, World Champion Microsoft Imagine Cup The landscape of available upper-limb prostheses needs to be refreshed. Most either lack function or are way too expensive. We’re on a mission to make beautiful, high-performance bionic limbs accessible to anyone in the world.
smartARM got its start in 2018 when, as a modest student project, it received the top prize at Microsoft’s international technology competition, Imagine Cup. In late 2019, inspired by the constant support received by the limb different community, it was clear that smartARM needed to be taken to the next level. By utilizing advanced 3D modelling and printing technology, coupled with artificial intelligence and machine learning, smartARM has transformed into a bionic prosthesis that users will both love and be able to afford.
No longer will an individual with a limb difference be forced to settle between cost and functionality.
Ken Goldberg, Professor, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research and William S. Floyd Jr. Distinguished Chair in Engineering, UC Berkeley and Director of CITRIS and the Banatao Institute People and Robots Initiative
My students and I pursue research in Robotics. Automation. Medical Robotics. Art. Networked Robots and Cameras. Social Information Filtering. Algorithmic Automation. New Media. Algorithms for Feeding, Fixturing, Grasping, and Assembly. Game-Based Learning. Automation for Public Safety and Security. Design of Parts, Devices, and Systems for Automation. https://citris-uc.org/people-and-robots/
Andra Keay, Managing Director of Silicon Valley Robotics, Secretary General of International Alliance of Robotics Associations and Visiting Scholar at CITRIS People and Robots Lab
Silicon Valley Robotics is the non-profit industry group supporting innovation and commercialization of robotics technologies. Andra is also the founder of the Good Robot Awards, Robot Launch global startup competition, Robot Garden maker space, Women in Robotics and is a trained futurist, mentor, investor and advisor to startups, accelerators and think tanks, with a strong interest in commercializing socially positive robotics and AI. She is also a Visiting Scholar with the UC’s CITRIS People and Robots Research Group.
Catch our previous episodes on Silicon Valley Robotics youtube channel
- June 16 “Robotics and Racism”
- June 30 “Killer Robots”
- August 11 “Robots and Aged Care Technology”
- August 25 “Agricultural Robotics”
- October 27 “Open Source Robotics”
- January 19 “Diversity and Inclusivity”
- February 23 “People with Disabilities”
Acknowledgement: Your hosts are speaking from the traditional lands of the Mewukma Ohlone People, who remain unrecognized in US Federal Law.