Time - International (2019-12-02)

HEALTH CARE

AN EASY­

ACCESS

DOCTOR

TytoHome

Getting to the

doctor’s office isn’t

always easy, but the

creators of the $299

TytoHome hope

to eliminate that

trip altogether. Its

handheld device mea-

sures vitals; exam-

ines lungs, ears,

skin and throats with

special adapters; and

video conferences

with a doctor to moni-

tor the metrics in real

time. “It transforms

primary care by

putting health in the

hands of consum-

ers,” says CEO Dedi

Gilad. —Hillary Leung

EXPERIMENTAL

A MORE

LIFELIKE

PROSTHETIC

BrainRobotics

AI prosthetic hand

The BrainRobotics prosthetic hand

is a first in its field: an intuitive AI-

powered hand that allows the user to

make unlimited gestures and grips.

Unlike other prosthetic hands that

came before it, this one employs

an algorithm that allows the hand

and user to learn from each other

and becomes more lifelike with

each use. The device also uses eight

multichannel electromyography

sensors in the wrist, which enable

the hand to process muscle signals

from the user’s arm, allowing more

accurate control over grips and hand

motions. Although the product is still

in the testing phase, one beta tester

was able to play a piano duet with

great success. “We hope our inven-

tion can give amputees the ability

to proudly control prosthetics just

like they are using their real hands,”

says Max Newlon, the president of

parent company BrainCo. When

available, the hand will cost $10,000

to $15,000— relatively affordable,

considering similar devices can cost

significantly more. ÑJosiah Bates

SOCIAL GOOD

VITAMINS

FOR ALL

Sanku Dosifier

An estimated 243 million

people in Africa are under-

nourished, largely because

of a starchy diet lacking

vitamins and minerals.

Local millers have not been

able to fortify their flours

with iron, B12, zinc and folic

acid, as industrial millers

do, until now. The Sanku

Dosifier enables any miller

to “dose” flour with the

precise ratio of nutrients

to ensure a healthy diet.

Sanku has outfitted 300

flour mills in East Africa and

plans to reach 15,000 more

by 2025, helping 100 mil-

lion people. —Aryn Baker

The index
finger can be
used on its
own when the
others are in
rest mode

EDUCATION

TRACKABLE

READING

Sora From Rakuten

OverDrive

The company behind

one of TIME’s Best

Apps of 2018 has a

new e-reading app for

children. Sora lets kids

check out e-books and

audiobooks in multiple

languages as they would

at a library, make notes

as they read, and share

those notes with their

teacher or classmates.

Teachers can also track

the time students spend

reading. The app is free

for students and is being

used by 23,000 schools

and districts globally.

—Jasmine Aguilera

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