Tikkun Olam Makers opened a new innovation hub in New York City.
You may not have heard of this organization, but it is a worthy one. Launched over a decade ago, it is a network of communities that provide access to inexpensive assistive devices, most of which can be 3D printed.
The organization is distributed: local areas operate “TOM communities”, which act as the arms and legs of the operation. They are separately funded independent organizations that act in concert with the whole.
Here’s how it works:
- A “challenge” in assistive devices is presented to a community by someone with an understanding of the problem, by filling out an intake form.
- The solution is devised by different approaches, including makeathons, independent development, etc.
- The solution is uploaded to the TOM Online Marketplace, using open source licensing.
- Users requiring assistive solutions can browse the marketplace to identify their desired 3D model.
- The marketplace is connected to a network of affiliated makerspaces where the parts can be manufactured at low cost.
The concept has been quite successful, with, as of this writing, 70 communities around the world, with over 200K products delivered to requestors.
The news this week is that TOM Global has opened up a new “Innovation Center”. They explain the purpose of the new facility:
“TOMIC NYC will serve as TOM’s second international innovation center, joining the TOMIC in Tel Aviv (TOMIC TLV), and will specialize in last-mile product development of open‑source solutions, which will be distributed across the U.S. and internationally. The center will also host year‑round activities for the TOM Community in NYC, including collaboration with local campuses, schools, care centres, and makerspaces throughout the tri‑state area, while acting as a destination for international innovators visiting the city.”
TOM’s marketplace is quite unique, as it now holds almost 1,300 different designs for assistive solutions. I should point out that it is also possible for anyone to download these 3D models and print them immediately if you have a 3D printer handy.
Which most Fabbaloo readers do, so take a look through the marketplace and see if you can print some helpful tools for those in your circles.
Via TOM Global
