The World's First Solar Hearing Aid

Here's an excellent example of African ingenuity. Godisa Technologies, a Botswana-based company, has invented the world's only Solar Powered Hearing Aid. In the developing world, getting access to a power point for recharging or a store that sells those tiny hearing aid batteries is not always feasible, so why not just use the sun?

In 1992 the Solar Aid Workshop was started in collaboration with the Botswana Technology Centre to manufacture solar rechargeable hearing aids that could be used by hearing-impaired people living in Africa and other parts of the developing world. Recently Solar Aid changed its name to Godisa in line with the broadening of its product base. Godisa means to do something that is helping others to grow. Its objective is to develop practical technologies for developing countries and to create employment and training opportunities for hearing disabled people.

We manufacture three hearing aids; these use regular zinc air or rechargeable batteries. We've developed a solar power battery recharger and the first No. 13 and low-cost No. 675 rechargable button-cell batteries. The latter can be charged up to 300 times over its two-year lifespan and sells for less than US$1.50.

We meet our mission of lowering the cost of hearing aids and maintenance for everyone.

Along with being the "only manufacturer of hearing aids in Africa and the only one in the world that involves deaf people in the manufacturing process," Godisa is also asking for donations to offer free hearing aids to African children. If this is your thing, contact them via email (content AT godisa DOT org).

Posted by flow Frazao on January 26, 2006 at 09:55 PM in Africa, Cool Stuff, Web/Tech | Permalink