Tech Tuesday: 3d printed casts and microsatellites

This week on News 1130 radio in Vancouver, I discussed these topics:

• The Cortex Cast: A recent university graduate in New Zealand has an idea he’s working on that will change how broken bones are taken care of. Today’s plaster casts are messy, uncomfortable and awkward to wear for weeks on end. Using 3d scanning and xray technology, Jake Evill hopes to bring 3d printed casts to a hospital near you soon. The 3d printed cast is a injury-localized exoskeleton made of flexible nylon mesh that is breathable, waterproof, washable, lightweight and recyclable.
• Skybox Imaging: A startup in Silicon Valley is hoping to make waves in the satellite imagery business by utilizing as many as 24 microsatellites to offer it’s customers high-resolution imagery and the first ever HD-video of any spot on earth, multiple times per day. According to Skybox, they “will be able to take the pulse of the planet on a near real-time basis to provide an indispensable tool in addressing global challenges in areas including security, humanitarian efforts, and environmental monitoring.”