Additive Manufacturing: Enabling-Technologies in the Childhood

The project “Additive Manufacturing: Enabling Technologies in the Childhood” aims to shed light on the complex network of actors involved in the design and production of the Robotel (turkish: robo hand, 3D printed prostheses) and to analyze the technological, social and ethical implications of its use for children with disabilities. The project will conduct in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders, such as children and their families, medical practitioners, and technicians. Furthermore, the project will observe the production process and examine the role of the Internet, social media, and online communities in the dissemination of information and the shaping of opinions about the Robotel.

The findings of the project will contribute to a better understanding of the interplay between technology, medicine, and society, as well as to the development of more inclusive and accessible technologies for children with disabilities. The results of the project will also inform discussions about the ethical implications of body modification and the increasing use of 3D printing in medical practices. Positioned within the research cluster “Human, Medicine and Society” of the Orient Institute Istanbul, this methodologically qualitative research project will be realized in close partnership with “Robotel Türkiye”.

Overall, the project provides a unique opportunity to critically reflect on the role of technology in shaping childrens’ bodies and lives, and to explore the potential for more equitable and just futures for children with disabilities.

Related publications

*Şahinol, M. (2022), “3D printed children’s prostheses as enabling technology? The experience of children with upper limb body differences”, Journal of Enabling Technologies, Vol. 16 No. 3, pp. 204-218. https://doi.org/10.1108/JET-02-2022-0017

*Bieling, T., Şahinol, M., Stock, R. and Wiechern, A. (2022), “Access and tinkering: designing assistive technologies as political practice–A discussion with Zeynep Karagöz, Thomas Miebach and Daniel Wessolek”, Journal of Enabling Technologies, Vol. 16 No. 3, pp. 231-242. https://doi.org/10.1108/JET-01-2022-0005

Şahinol, M. “Eklemli Üretim: Çocuklukta Olanak Sağlaya Teknoloji (Turkish) / Additive Manufacturing: Enabling-Technologien in der Kindheit (German)”, Newsletter April/ Nisan 2017, Orient-Institut Istanbul

September 9, 2022: “When children with 3D printed prosthesis feel like super heroes”, STS conference “Doğa ve Kültür Ayrımının Ötesinde” (engl. “Beyond the Nature and Culture Dichotomy”), Türk-Alman Üniversitesi, Istanbul (Turkey).

February 24, 2022: “Das Soziale und das Technische gemeinsam denken: 3D gedruckte Prothesen für Kinder als Enabler?”, Soziologie-Gesprächsreihe, Institut für Soziologie, Türkisch-Deutsche Universität Istanbul (online).

January 21, 2020: “3-D printed prostheses and empowerment in the childhood”, Workshop: Technology and the Body: Care, Empowerment and the Fluidity of Bodies, Orient-Institut Istanbul (Turkey).

October 13, 2019: Science Fiction Becomes Reality – Human Augmentation und Enhancement durch 3D-gedruckte Prothesen?, turmdersinne-Symposium 2019: Bessere Menschen? Technische und ethische Fragen in der transhumanistischen Zukunft, October 11-13, 2019, Nürnberg (Germany).

September 5, 2019: Crippling the Transition to the Extraordinary? Enabling Technologies and Extra_Ordinarity, 4S Annual Meeting “Innovations, Interruptions, Regenerations”, September 4-7, 2019, New Orleans (Louisiana).

September 11, 2018 “Teknolojik Gelişme ve Hassas Gruplar. Tasarım ve Sosyoloji Perspektifinden 3 Boyutlu Yazıcıdan Protezli Çocuklarla Görüşmek –Bir Disiplinler Arası Yaklaşım”, STS TURKEY conference (Middle East Technical University, Ankara), together with Zeynep Karagöz (Robotel Türkiye), Melis Dursun (Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi)

April 18, 2018: Enhancement und Vulnerabilität. Die Befragung von Kindern mit Prothesen aus dem 3D-Drucker, Kick-Off Meeting „Digitale Selbstvermessung zwischen Empowerment und neuen Barrieren“ of the project “Digitale Vulnerabilität zwischen Inklusion und sozialer Robustheit”, Hochschule Furtwangen University & Schrader Stiftung (Darmstadt, Germany)

July 7, 2017: CRISPR.kitchen Berlin German biohacker and maker gathering (presentation of 3D printed hand prothesis) (Berlin, Germany)

June 20, 2017: 360°-Envisioning Workshop,  European Parliament /Science and Technology Options Assessment Brussels, on additive bio-manufacturing: 3D printing for medical recovery and human enhancement (invited as expert) (Brussels, Belgium)

Workshop: „Technology and the Body: Care, Empowerment and the Fluidity of Bodies“

Crippling the Transition to the Extraordinary? Enabling Technologies and Extra_Ordinarity

Enhancement und Vulnerabilität. Die Befragung von Kindern mit Prothesen aus dem 3D Drucker