Children use creativity to create their own superpowers

In January 2016, six children gathered at Pier 9 in San Francisco to work with prosthetics experts and 3D design specialists from software firm Autodesk to create their own special prosthetics.

KIDMOB’s Superhero Cyborgs event brought children between the ages of 10 to 15 with upper-limb differences – having been born without or having lost a limb – together to use their imaginations and create their own superpowers.

The event aims to change the perception of seeing a missing limb as a disability, and rather as a blank canvas. The participants worked with engineers to envision and prototype their own personal wearable devices, learning about 3D modelling, digital fabrication and how to bring an idea to life. The California College of the Arts also contributed through volunteers and hardware. To design their superpowers, kids used Autodesk software such as Tinkercad and Fusion 360.

Wearables included an e-NABLE hand with detachable bow and arrow, a five-nozzle glitter shooter and a arm activated dual water gun by 12 year old Sydney Howard to help her beat her siblings in water gun fights.

To find out more about the event, visit www.kidmob.org