Non-profits dedicated to developing 3-D-printed prosthetics are a fairly common non-profit now. It only makes sense that Google would get involved and take it to another level.
The tech giant launched its non-profit program Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities on Wednesday. "We're challenging the thinkers, the doers, the builders to create technologies that can make a difference to the one billion people around the world living with a disability," Google wrote on its Google+ page.
So far, Google has partnered with two organizations that focus on helping the disabled community. First, there's the Enable Community Foundation, to whom Google sent a $600,000 grant. Enable will use that money to fund the printing and donation of 3D-printed prosthetic limbs to those in need. Google also sent a $500,000 check to World Wide Hearing, which develops low-cost tool kits that will help people fight hearing loss.
According to Google, this round of funding is just the beginning.
"The Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities will seek out nonprofits and help them find new solutions to some serious 'what ifs' for the disabled community," writes Google.org director Jacqueline Fuller. "We will choose the best of these ideas and help them to scale by investing in their vision, by rallying our people and by mobilizing our resources in support of their missions."
PC World notes that this isn't the first time that Google has funded projects that help the disabled community. "Mission Arm and e-NABLE each received grants to 3D print prosthetic limbs, while the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is developing smart glasses with money from Google," according to PC World.
