Waterproof Cochlear

Can you design a waterproof Cochlear implant at an affordable price?

Here is your chance to do so and positively impact the lives of hearing impaired people, especially when they want to perform activities that entail direct contact with water.

A call for embedded systems, electronic, industrial and nanotech engineers to find innovative solutions for an affordable waterproof cochlear implant for a chance to win 100,000 EGP, 75,000 EGP and 50,000 EGP for 3 winning projects presented by Life Makers Foundation Egypt in collaboration with Samsung Egypt, as part of the Innovation Competition. Please read the following for more details!

Background

Hearing loss shouldn’t stop people with this disability from practicing and enjoying sports and leisure activities. However due to the lack of affordable waterproof cochlear implants, people with hearing impairment cannot keep their devices while swimming or practicing other sports that involve constant contact with water. And for those who practice outdoor activities, there is the risk of damaging their aids due to prolonged exposure to water and moisture such as heavy rain.

It is important to mention that there are several water-resistant devices in the market that can continue working properly, only if they are exposed to a small amount of moisture for a short period of time. However, long-time exposure to water and humidity could damage its parts and cause it to stop functioning.

As a result, for the hearing impaired, the lack of an affordable waterproof cochlear implant places limitations on the different activities that they can practice, affects their social exposure and interaction and generally the lifestyle that they want to pursue.

Challenge

To design a waterproof cochlear implant that is affordable and accessible to the average local user. It can be a standalone solution or an add-on. The solution should enable wearers to practice water related activities such as swimming without the risk of getting their device damaged. The submitted innovation should fulfil the following criteria:

• Protects cochlear implant against long time exposure of water
• Low cost
• Tech enabled or digital
• Easy handling
• Safe operation
• Durable

Reward and Conditions

The winner will receive one of 3 awards: 100,000 EGP for 1st place, 75,000 EGP for 2nd place, and 50,000 EGP for 3rd place provided by Samsung Egypt and in collaboration with Life Makers Foundation Egypt , to implement the solution according to the following conditions:

▷ The solution should meet the aforementioned criteria

▷ The solution should be provided as a detailed description of the concept. The description should show how the solution meets the criteria in detail, how it solves the challenge and what benefits it offers to the user, why it is different compared to existing solutions (if applicable) and how it utilizes technology to solve the challenge

▷ The solution should include a clear plan of action including implementation stages to produce the final prototype (including preparation, implementation and testing), timeline, required components/materials, estimated budget, and technical support required (if applicable)

▷ Preference will be given to solutions that include a basic visual prototype

▷ Preference will be given to solutions including higher percentages of local components

Submitted solutions will be go through a shortlisting stage. Shortlisted solutions will receive coaching sessions during January to prepare them for the pitch competition. Final winners will be selected after presenting their solutions to a judging panel at the end of January.

The reward will be given in installments, following milestones set by the innovator(s) according to their plan of action.

 

As per our platform Terms and Conditions, in case the intellectual property rights are not registered, the innovator should include the minimum details required to judge the technical validity and feasibility of the solution without full technical specifications.

You can submit a solution at any time. Before doing so, we strongly recommend you to read the rules and FAQs.

About the Program

This challenge is part of the Innovation Competition initiated by Life Makers Foundation Egypt with the main funding supporter Samsung Egypt and implemented by Yomken.com. The competition aims at encouraging Egyptian innovators to develop innovations in the field of empowering Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). This is done by providing technical and financial support to develop technology enabled and digital innovations that can effectively address challenges vis-à-vis PwD employment, education and social inclusion and which have the potential for implementation and scaling at the national level.

 

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