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How to ask simple questions to solve challenges you have no idea about | Arun Cherian | TEDxJaipur


hello everyone

hello everyone worldwide there are over 40 million

worldwide there are over 40 million

worldwide there are over 40 million amputees that is people without a part

amputees that is people without a part

amputees that is people without a part of their leg hand or more in India of

of their leg hand or more in India of

of their leg hand or more in India of the millions of amputees 90 to 95

the millions of amputees 90 to 95

the millions of amputees 90 to 95 percent of them don’t have access to an

percent of them don’t have access to an

percent of them don’t have access to an effective solution to go about their

effective solution to go about their

effective solution to go about their day-to-day lives the largest cause of

day-to-day lives the largest cause of

day-to-day lives the largest cause of amputation is diabetes then grow traffic

amputation is diabetes then grow traffic

amputation is diabetes then grow traffic accidents and then war an India

accidents and then war an India

accidents and then war an India if the diabetic capital of the world

if the diabetic capital of the world

if the diabetic capital of the world it’s only gonna get worse than the

it’s only gonna get worse than the

it’s only gonna get worse than the coming decades and in fact the most

coming decades and in fact the most

coming decades and in fact the most common kind of amputation is that of the

common kind of amputation is that of the

common kind of amputation is that of the leg for a moment imagine without any

leg for a moment imagine without any

leg for a moment imagine without any warning you lose your leg would you be

warning you lose your leg would you be

warning you lose your leg would you be able to walk the same way would you be

able to walk the same way would you be

able to walk the same way would you be able to go about work the same way let

able to go about work the same way let

able to go about work the same way let alone run player dance can you about

alone run player dance can you about

alone run player dance can you about come to terms with this reality the

come to terms with this reality the

come to terms with this reality the harsh reality for most amputees is that

harsh reality for most amputees is that

harsh reality for most amputees is that they either lose their jobs or they earn

they either lose their jobs or they earn

they either lose their jobs or they earn significantly less than before which

significantly less than before which

significantly less than before which results in reduced social interaction

results in reduced social interaction

results in reduced social interaction leading to further isolation and many a

leading to further isolation and many a

leading to further isolation and many a time a close family member has to become

time a close family member has to become

time a close family member has to become a caretaker resulting in in them having

a caretaker resulting in in them having

a caretaker resulting in in them having reduced income generation now

reduced income generation now

reduced income generation now prosthetics have been around for 2,000

prosthetics have been around for 2,000

prosthetics have been around for 2,000 years from the wooden peg leg to carbon

years from the wooden peg leg to carbon

years from the wooden peg leg to carbon fiber prosthetics with which everybody

fiber prosthetics with which everybody

fiber prosthetics with which everybody people can run faster than normal but

people can run faster than normal but

people can run faster than normal but yet 90 to 95 percent of people you tease

yet 90 to 95 percent of people you tease

yet 90 to 95 percent of people you tease in India don’t have access to an

in India don’t have access to an

in India don’t have access to an effective solution this is not just a

effective solution this is not just a

effective solution this is not just a health or a societal issue it’s also an

health or a societal issue it’s also an

health or a societal issue it’s also an economic issue

economic issue

economic issue sure I’d like to tell share with you how

sure I’d like to tell share with you how

sure I’d like to tell share with you how I have an engineer I’m developing high

I have an engineer I’m developing high

I have an engineer I’m developing high quality cost-effective prosthetic legs

quality cost-effective prosthetic legs

quality cost-effective prosthetic legs for the masses not just for India but

for the masses not just for India but

for the masses not just for India but also Asia Africa and South America

also Asia Africa and South America

also Asia Africa and South America wherein people can not just walk and

wherein people can not just walk and

wherein people can not just walk and work longer but also run play and dance

work longer but also run play and dance

work longer but also run play and dance now to understand this better I traveled

now to understand this better I traveled

now to understand this better I traveled across India talking to doctors from

across India talking to doctors from

across India talking to doctors from multiple hospitals organizations and

multiple hospitals organizations and

multiple hospitals organizations and even amputees to better understand what

even amputees to better understand what

even amputees to better understand what are the challenges what were their

are the challenges what were their

are the challenges what were their experiences like why are things the way

experiences like why are things the way

experiences like why are things the way they are because they are in the field

they are because they are in the field

they are because they are in the field they know best and to summarize my

they know best and to summarize my

they know best and to summarize my understanding into three points first

understanding into three points first

understanding into three points first there is the need for appropriate

there is the need for appropriate

there is the need for appropriate technology – there is a need for

technology – there is a need for

technology – there is a need for awareness and three that if the need for

awareness and three that if the need for

awareness and three that if the need for accessibility of such technology at

accessibility of such technology at

accessibility of such technology at scale now let’s take the first one

scale now let’s take the first one

scale now let’s take the first one appropriate technology you see the human

appropriate technology you see the human

appropriate technology you see the human leg if made for movement it’s naturally

leg if made for movement it’s naturally

leg if made for movement it’s naturally light and weight it’s flexible but the

light and weight it’s flexible but the

light and weight it’s flexible but the prosthetics that we give out for free

prosthetics that we give out for free

prosthetics that we give out for free they are inherently rigid inflexible and

they are inherently rigid inflexible and

they are inherently rigid inflexible and heavy now as an engineer I have thumb

heavy now as an engineer I have thumb

heavy now as an engineer I have thumb background when it comes to making legs

background when it comes to making legs

background when it comes to making legs or robots that walk I was developing

or robots that walk I was developing

or robots that walk I was developing these wearable exoskeleton suits that

these wearable exoskeleton suits that

these wearable exoskeleton suits that help paralyzed people who are completely

help paralyzed people who are completely

help paralyzed people who are completely wheelchair bound to be able to stand up

wheelchair bound to be able to stand up

wheelchair bound to be able to stand up and walk they would cost about a hundred

and walk they would cost about a hundred

and walk they would cost about a hundred thousand dollars but the point is the

thousand dollars but the point is the

thousand dollars but the point is the human leg is essentially a spring simply

human leg is essentially a spring simply

human leg is essentially a spring simply said now it turns out whether you’re an

said now it turns out whether you’re an

said now it turns out whether you’re an elephant lion human a little mouse or a

elephant lion human a little mouse or a

elephant lion human a little mouse or a spider

spider

spider mathematically we all essentially walked

mathematically we all essentially walked

mathematically we all essentially walked the same the human leg is a spring back

the same the human leg is a spring back

the same the human leg is a spring back at home we have the skin furniture

at home we have the skin furniture

at home we have the skin furniture that’s bent in all these beautiful

that’s bent in all these beautiful

that’s bent in all these beautiful shapes and you can sit on it you see if

shapes and you can sit on it you see if

shapes and you can sit on it you see if it’s bent and you can sit that’s a

it’s bent and you can sit that’s a

it’s bent and you can sit that’s a spring of sorts and so for me it was

spring of sorts and so for me it was

spring of sorts and so for me it was really a curiosity bees question if keen

really a curiosity bees question if keen

really a curiosity bees question if keen is a spring and the human leg is a

is a spring and the human leg is a

is a spring and the human leg is a spring can I make a leg out of cane it

spring can I make a leg out of cane it

spring can I make a leg out of cane it really was a kid you have to be this

really was a kid you have to be this

really was a kid you have to be this question should I understand this better

question should I understand this better

question should I understand this better I went talking to artisans so he went to

I went talking to artisans so he went to

I went talking to artisans so he went to the artisan down the road and I asked

the artisan down the road and I asked

the artisan down the road and I asked him you know can you make came in about

him you know can you make came in about

him you know can you make came in about this the shape and he was like sure I

this the shape and he was like sure I

this the shape and he was like sure I say okay can you make cane about that

say okay can you make cane about that

say okay can you make cane about that just big the size of a human leg he’s

just big the size of a human leg he’s

just big the size of a human leg he’s like sure okay can I can I take about

like sure okay can I can I take about

like sure okay can I can I take about the weight of a human body about and

the weight of a human body about and

the weight of a human body about and more maybe about 150 kg to 200 and he’s

more maybe about 150 kg to 200 and he’s

more maybe about 150 kg to 200 and he’s like sure okay that’s interesting and

like sure okay that’s interesting and

like sure okay that’s interesting and then he made me a couple of pieces and

then he made me a couple of pieces and

then he made me a couple of pieces and then I went searching for a mechanical

then I went searching for a mechanical

then I went searching for a mechanical lab with which I had to test him so I

lab with which I had to test him so I

lab with which I had to test him so I know for sure it could really take the

know for sure it could really take the

know for sure it could really take the weight and after asking around I finally

weight and after asking around I finally

weight and after asking around I finally ended up at the aerospace department at

ended up at the aerospace department at

ended up at the aerospace department at the Indonesian of Science Bangalore

the Indonesian of Science Bangalore

the Indonesian of Science Bangalore under professor amar but now they work

under professor amar but now they work

under professor amar but now they work with Spieth great composites like carbon

with Spieth great composites like carbon

with Spieth great composites like carbon fiber it turns out King 2 is a natural

fiber it turns out King 2 is a natural

fiber it turns out King 2 is a natural composite and they had just a machine to

composite and they had just a machine to

composite and they had just a machine to test King so we put the King leg into

test King so we put the King leg into

test King so we put the King leg into the Machine and ran it and it worked far

the Machine and ran it and it worked far

the Machine and ran it and it worked far better than we expected so now we know

better than we expected so now we know

better than we expected so now we know that cane is strong enough but I don’t

that cane is strong enough but I don’t

that cane is strong enough but I don’t know how to make prosthetic legs like

know how to make prosthetic legs like

know how to make prosthetic legs like I’ve worked with robots but not not with

I’ve worked with robots but not not with

I’ve worked with robots but not not with wood or not even made these kinds of

wood or not even made these kinds of

wood or not even made these kinds of prosthetics so I went searching for

prosthetics so I went searching for

prosthetics so I went searching for organizations that made such and I

organizations that made such and I

organizations that made such and I eventually ended up at the association

eventually ended up at the association

eventually ended up at the association of people with disability in Bangalore

of people with disability in Bangalore

of people with disability in Bangalore they’ve been making prosthetic

they’ve been making prosthetic

they’ve been making prosthetic for all 50 years way longer than I have

for all 50 years way longer than I have

for all 50 years way longer than I have and then through together we made early

and then through together we made early

and then through together we made early prototypes of this prosthetic leg and

prototypes of this prosthetic leg and

prototypes of this prosthetic leg and now and one of the users are amputees

now and one of the users are amputees

now and one of the users are amputees from the association of people with

from the association of people with

from the association of people with disability came into volunteered to use

disability came into volunteered to use

disability came into volunteered to use the prosthetic leg and and he’s a child

the prosthetic leg and and he’s a child

the prosthetic leg and and he’s a child who lost both his legs he’s more like a

who lost both his legs he’s more like a

who lost both his legs he’s more like a grown man he lost both his legs above

grown man he lost both his legs above

grown man he lost both his legs above his knee with very short stumps and that

his knee with very short stumps and that

his knee with very short stumps and that doesn’t really allow him to walk much

doesn’t really allow him to walk much

doesn’t really allow him to walk much now for the past nine years he needed

now for the past nine years he needed

now for the past nine years he needed two crutches to walk with his prosthetic

two crutches to walk with his prosthetic

two crutches to walk with his prosthetic legs so after making these cane

legs so after making these cane

legs so after making these cane prosthetics and fitting it he would come

prosthetics and fitting it he would come

prosthetics and fitting it he would come one hour a day for training and by the

one hour a day for training and by the

one hour a day for training and by the third hour more like the third hour of

third hour more like the third hour of

third hour more like the third hour of wearing the prosthetic leg this is the

wearing the prosthetic leg this is the

wearing the prosthetic leg this is the first time the child is able to walk

first time the child is able to walk

first time the child is able to walk without crutches for the very first time

you’ll see he’s wobbling a lot that’s

you’ll see he’s wobbling a lot that’s because using crutches his core muscles

because using crutches his core muscles

because using crutches his core muscles became weak but then by the fifth hour

became weak but then by the fifth hour

became weak but then by the fifth hour or he was able to do things like kicking

or he was able to do things like kicking

or he was able to do things like kicking the football and and even the other

the football and and even the other

the football and and even the other users were like this is awesome it is

users were like this is awesome it is

users were like this is awesome it is lightweight it’s flexible hugely cost

lightweight it’s flexible hugely cost

lightweight it’s flexible hugely cost effective but it looks weird because

effective but it looks weird because

effective but it looks weird because they just want a leg that looks normal

they just want a leg that looks normal

they just want a leg that looks normal and they’re like can you make it look

and they’re like can you make it look

and they’re like can you make it look like a real leg so then I can goop I can

like a real leg so then I can goop I can

like a real leg so then I can goop I can take it to whom I can take it to office

take it to whom I can take it to office

take it to whom I can take it to office and then people will talk about it and I

and then people will talk about it and I

and then people will talk about it and I can just go about living my normal life

can just go about living my normal life

can just go about living my normal life and it’s like oh that’s interesting you

and it’s like oh that’s interesting you

and it’s like oh that’s interesting you know this is at the end of the day only

know this is at the end of the day only

know this is at the end of the day only a tool by which they can live a better

a tool by which they can live a better

a tool by which they can live a better life

life

life nothing more should and together we

nothing more should and together we

nothing more should and together we worked with we developed these cosmetic

worked with we developed these cosmetic

worked with we developed these cosmetic covers that make it look more like a leg

covers that make it look more like a leg

covers that make it look more like a leg inside of it is keen we also have

inside of it is keen we also have

inside of it is keen we also have digitally printed skin texture that can

digitally printed skin texture that can

digitally printed skin texture that can be color matched to the person’s skin

be color matched to the person’s skin

be color matched to the person’s skin tone making it very realistic-looking

tone making it very realistic-looking

tone making it very realistic-looking and in fact then we have one of our

and in fact then we have one of our

and in fact then we have one of our early users he started taking this to

early users he started taking this to

early users he started taking this to work and when with the previous leg he

work and when with the previous leg he

work and when with the previous leg he could wear it for three hours and then

could wear it for three hours and then

could wear it for three hours and then get tired with this since it looks more

get tired with this since it looks more

get tired with this since it looks more like a leg and it’s light and weight and

like a leg and it’s light and weight and

like a leg and it’s light and weight and flexible he’s able to wear this for 13

flexible he’s able to wear this for 13

flexible he’s able to wear this for 13 hours being able to work longer and earn

hours being able to work longer and earn

hours being able to work longer and earn a better income so it’s fair to say that

a better income so it’s fair to say that

a better income so it’s fair to say that it’s reasonably appropriate it’s

it’s reasonably appropriate it’s

it’s reasonably appropriate it’s lightweight flexible now it’s important

lightweight flexible now it’s important

lightweight flexible now it’s important to get the word out and create awareness

to get the word out and create awareness

to get the word out and create awareness because you see nobody chooses to be an

because you see nobody chooses to be an

because you see nobody chooses to be an amputee it happens almost instantly and

amputee it happens almost instantly and

amputee it happens almost instantly and many a time the patient or even the near

many a time the patient or even the near

many a time the patient or even the near family are mentally not prepared to

family are mentally not prepared to

family are mentally not prepared to handle this they aren’t even aware of

handle this they aren’t even aware of

handle this they aren’t even aware of what amputation is should create

what amputation is should create

what amputation is should create awareness we created something called

awareness we created something called

awareness we created something called the programs the sports program

the programs the sports program

the programs the sports program the dance program the fitness program

the dance program the fitness program

the dance program the fitness program wherein we encourage our users to take

wherein we encourage our users to take

wherein we encourage our users to take up these activities and we connect them

up these activities and we connect them

up these activities and we connect them with world-class coaches and provide all

with world-class coaches and provide all

with world-class coaches and provide all the necessary support needed and our

the necessary support needed and our

the necessary support needed and our early users have done things like

early users have done things like

early users have done things like marathons this is a person who lost his

marathons this is a person who lost his

marathons this is a person who lost his leg about five years ago and he designed

leg about five years ago and he designed

leg about five years ago and he designed his own art leg and he took a

his own art leg and he took a

his own art leg and he took a bodybuilding and now he’s a fitness

bodybuilding and now he’s a fitness

bodybuilding and now he’s a fitness trainer to able-bodied people we also

trainer to able-bodied people we also

trainer to able-bodied people we also create we also have community gatherings

create we also have community gatherings

create we also have community gatherings where we have amputees come all across

where we have amputees come all across

where we have amputees come all across and have fun with each other and learn

and have fun with each other and learn

and have fun with each other and learn together about what they can do cannot

together about what they can do cannot

together about what they can do cannot do

do

do it’s amazing the the energy and fun they

it’s amazing the the energy and fun they

it’s amazing the the energy and fun they have we also had the honor to take part

have we also had the honor to take part

have we also had the honor to take part in Cybertron which is an international

in Cybertron which is an international

in Cybertron which is an international competition for prosthetic legs being

competition for prosthetic legs being

competition for prosthetic legs being one segment and we were the only team

one segment and we were the only team

one segment and we were the only team from India that got selected and we were

from India that got selected and we were

from India that got selected and we were competing with we were competing with

competing with we were competing with

competing with we were competing with Auto Bach with is a German company that

Auto Bach with is a German company that

Auto Bach with is a German company that that’s the largest manufacturer of

that’s the largest manufacturer of

that’s the largest manufacturer of prosthetic legs and then also they

prosthetic legs and then also they

prosthetic legs and then also they create they make the fastest lakes and

create they make the fastest lakes and

create they make the fastest lakes and the one of the lightest they came in

the one of the lightest they came in

the one of the lightest they came in with a system worth $100,000 and ours is

with a system worth $100,000 and ours is

with a system worth $100,000 and ours is significantly cheaper than that

significantly cheaper than that

significantly cheaper than that significantly and out of the tree and

significantly and out of the tree and

significantly and out of the tree and there were three races obstacle races of

there were three races obstacle races of

there were three races obstacle races of the three races in two races our boys

the three races in two races our boys

the three races in two races our boys time first and the second race three

time first and the second race three

time first and the second race three times second and all of this together

times second and all of this together

times second and all of this together has resulted in extremely positive

has resulted in extremely positive

has resulted in extremely positive stories of our users and cut the word

stories of our users and cut the word

stories of our users and cut the word around and now we have thousands of

around and now we have thousands of

around and now we have thousands of people from across India reaching out to

people from across India reaching out to

people from across India reaching out to us and not just from India from Sierra

us and not just from India from Sierra

us and not just from India from Sierra Leone to Tunisia to West Indies to

Leone to Tunisia to West Indies to

Leone to Tunisia to West Indies to Mexico to Argentina people have been

Mexico to Argentina people have been

Mexico to Argentina people have been reaching out for the prosthesis now

reaching out for the prosthesis now

reaching out for the prosthesis now which leads to the third facet of now

which leads to the third facet of now

which leads to the third facet of now making it accessible to the masses

making it accessible to the masses

making it accessible to the masses if he in India there are far too few

if he in India there are far too few

if he in India there are far too few prosperous especially educated to the

prosperous especially educated to the

prosperous especially educated to the need

need

need of a large country like India and in

of a large country like India and in

of a large country like India and in fact not just are the lack of

fact not just are the lack of

fact not just are the lack of prosthetist even the processing world is

prosthetist even the processing world is

prosthetist even the processing world is very cumbersome with plaster of Paris

very cumbersome with plaster of Paris

very cumbersome with plaster of Paris moulding it’s time to you have to wait

moulding it’s time to you have to wait

moulding it’s time to you have to wait depending on the weather

depending on the weather

depending on the weather it’ll set and if you don’t get it right

it’ll set and if you don’t get it right

it’ll set and if you don’t get it right the first time then you have to start

the first time then you have to start

the first time then you have to start all over again it’s cumbersome fragile

all over again it’s cumbersome fragile

all over again it’s cumbersome fragile time-consuming and it just isn’t

time-consuming and it just isn’t

time-consuming and it just isn’t scalable so now really using appropriate

scalable so now really using appropriate

scalable so now really using appropriate technology like compact 3d scanners that

technology like compact 3d scanners that

technology like compact 3d scanners that can be deployed in a remote village a

can be deployed in a remote village a

can be deployed in a remote village a person can scan it upload it to the

person can scan it upload it to the

person can scan it upload it to the cloud and we use a set of open-source

cloud and we use a set of open-source

cloud and we use a set of open-source software we can digitally modify it and

software we can digitally modify it and

software we can digitally modify it and intra fusing importing complex machines

intra fusing importing complex machines

intra fusing importing complex machines we’ve modified the process so you can

we’ve modified the process so you can

we’ve modified the process so you can use readily available machines and

use readily available machines and

use readily available machines and material to make a to make the circuit

material to make a to make the circuit

material to make a to make the circuit will emit a method that will otherwise

will emit a method that will otherwise

will emit a method that will otherwise take eight hours with plaster of Paris

take eight hours with plaster of Paris

take eight hours with plaster of Paris or really about two to three days with

or really about two to three days with

or really about two to three days with all the delays we can do it in less than

all the delays we can do it in less than

all the delays we can do it in less than an hour and now with this we are working

an hour and now with this we are working

an hour and now with this we are working with world-class partners like the T lab

with world-class partners like the T lab

with world-class partners like the T lab from MIT the International Red Cross in

from MIT the International Red Cross in

from MIT the International Red Cross in Geneva and amazing a local partners beat

Geneva and amazing a local partners beat

Geneva and amazing a local partners beat central cmp veil or st. john’s hospital

central cmp veil or st. john’s hospital

central cmp veil or st. john’s hospital the authority to people with disability

the authority to people with disability

the authority to people with disability mobility in their far so many partners

mobility in their far so many partners

mobility in their far so many partners to help us fine tune this process now

to help us fine tune this process now

to help us fine tune this process now you see we are working with extremely

you see we are working with extremely

you see we are working with extremely smart people from different facets like

smart people from different facets like

smart people from different facets like from engineer from manufacturing to

from engineer from manufacturing to

from engineer from manufacturing to textile to furniture to bring in their

textile to furniture to bring in their

textile to furniture to bring in their best practices into the medical industry

best practices into the medical industry

best practices into the medical industry in making better prosthetics just so

in making better prosthetics just so

in making better prosthetics just so that we can improve people’s lives think

that we can improve people’s lives think

that we can improve people’s lives think of it like the people around you having

of it like the people around you having

of it like the people around you having a small piece to the puzzle that you’re

a small piece to the puzzle that you’re

a small piece to the puzzle that you’re trying to solve and you see there are

trying to solve and you see there are

trying to solve and you see there are many many real challenges around us that

many many real challenges around us that

many many real challenges around us that require a multi-faceted nuanced approach

require a multi-faceted nuanced approach

require a multi-faceted nuanced approach to really effectively solve it and you

to really effectively solve it and you

to really effectively solve it and you don’t have to be an engineer or a doctor

don’t have to be an engineer or a doctor

don’t have to be an engineer or a doctor or a specialist in a field to solve it

or a specialist in a field to solve it

or a specialist in a field to solve it if there is if you can identify a

if there is if you can identify a

if there is if you can identify a challenge around you that genuinely

challenge around you that genuinely

challenge around you that genuinely matters to you it’s okay if you

matters to you it’s okay if you

matters to you it’s okay if you immediately don’t have all the answers

immediately don’t have all the answers

immediately don’t have all the answers if you can ask the right questions to

if you can ask the right questions to

if you can ask the right questions to the people around you that together you

the people around you that together you

the people around you that together you can form an effective solution to the

can form an effective solution to the

can form an effective solution to the challenge and genuinely make the world a

challenge and genuinely make the world a

challenge and genuinely make the world a better place thank you

better place thank you

better place thank you [Applause]

”

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