🙏deeply honored to have received the “Wissen der Vielen – Citizen Science Research Award” (3rd place) for my article:
"3D-printed children’s prostheses as enabling technology? The experience of children with upper limb body differences." 🦾💓some personal reflections 👉https://rb.gy/iiyyz7
doi.org
3D printed children's prostheses as enabling technology? The experience of children with upper limb body differences
Purpose. This paper examines the extent to which 3D printed children's prostheses function as enabling technology. The focus lies on the experiences of children with upper limb body differences using 3D printed prostheses in the context of (posthuman) cyborg theories.Design/methodology/approach. This article is based on several years of field research applying a grounded theory approach. (Health) technology and the body are examined with special regard to the vulnerability of the technology user who is, also, the technology designer. Taking these children's particular vulnerability and sensitivity into account, the method of “cultural probes” was further developed applying distributed socio-(bio-)technical probes, which conceive soma design as the matter of a socio-material world.Findings. It was shown that the e-NABLE device is not only a socially enabling somatechnic but can itself be limiting, vulnerable and painful for children due to its materiality. The somatechnical construction of children's bodies and identities are presented as heroic figures, which, in part, produces and experiences a corporeal being that is based on and identifies with these heroes and heroines – but may not always be in the interests of children with disabilities. In order to meet these children's needs, the author argues in line with crip technoscience that 3D printed prostheses should be co-developed with (and specifically for) them.Originality/value. This paper is the first of its kind to consider the daily lives of children with 3D printed prostheses and their experiences as knowers and makers of such. This paper adds to the body of knowledge in the field of crip technoscience and enabling technologies.Peer review. The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon 10.1108/JET-02-2022-0017
