How a West African lab made a 3D printer from toxic e-waste

By Chris Giles, CNN

Updated 1122 GMT (1922 HKT) October 16, 2018

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Welcome, to the bleeding-edge of African innovation: VR, 3D printing, AI and the rest. The continent isn't just driving technological change for Africa, but for the world. <strong>Click through</strong> to discover the inventions and innovations coming out of Africa. <br /><br /><strong>3D printing</strong> - 3D printing is gaining traction in Africa. In 2013, WoeLabs tech hub in Togo made the first "Made in Africa" 3D printer from e-waste. They want to use the 3D printer to revolutionize Africa. They're starting by putting a machine in every school within 1km of the workshop. Buni Hub is another tech center, based in Tanzania, that is building 3D printers.
Photos: African innovations that could change the world
Welcome, to the bleeding-edge of African innovation: VR, 3D printing, AI and the rest. The continent isn't just driving technological change for Africa, but for the world. Click through to discover the inventions and innovations coming out of Africa.

3D printing - 3D printing is gaining traction in Africa. In 2013, WoeLabs tech hub in Togo made the first "Made in Africa" 3D printer from e-waste. They want to use the 3D printer to revolutionize Africa. They're starting by putting a machine in every school within 1km of the workshop. Buni Hub is another tech center, based in Tanzania, that is building 3D printers.
Hide Caption
1 of 15
Pneumonia is a deadly condition. It's responsible for <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs331/en/" target="_blank">16% of all deaths of children under five.</a> A main contributing factor to this is slow diagnosis. Ugandan inventor Brian Turyabagye has created a biomedical smart jacket that can diagnose the condition four times faster than a doctor. It's also more accurate. It analyzes the chest and then sends the information via Bluetooth to a smartphone app. <br /><br /><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/24/africa/biomedical-jacket-uganda-africa-tech-rising/index.html" target="_blank"> Read more</a> about this biomedical breakthrough.
Photos: African innovations that could change the world
Biomedical smart jacket – Pneumonia is a deadly condition. It's responsible for 16% of all deaths of children under five. A main contributing factor to this is slow diagnosis. Ugandan inventor Brian Turyabagye has created a biomedical smart jacket that can diagnose the condition four times faster than a doctor. It's also more accurate. It analyzes the chest and then sends the information via Bluetooth to a smartphone app.

Read more about this biomedical breakthrough.
Hide Caption
2 of 15
African countries are developing groundbreaking technology for space exploration. Look no further than the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) in South Africa which, once completed, is set to be world's largest telescope. It will allow scientists to look many times deeper into space. <br /><br /><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/10/africa/africa-space-race/index.html">Read more</a> about Africa's journeys into space.
Photos: African innovations that could change the world
Africa's space race – African countries are developing groundbreaking technology for space exploration. Look no further than the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) in South Africa which, once completed, is set to be world's largest telescope. It will allow scientists to look many times deeper into space.

Read more about Africa's journeys into space.
Hide Caption
3 of 15
VR has the potential to change many industries. One example is mining, a profession which has its dangers and risks. In an effort to create a safe yet accurate training environment, a team at the University of Pretoria, South Africa have a created the continent's first <a href="http://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/Legacy/sitefiles/file/44/1026/2163/8121/innovate8/2829africas_first_virtual_reality_mine_design_centrebyjaninesmit.pdf" target="_blank">VR mine</a>. The center allows students and mining staff to train in a simulated mining environment. African filmmakers are also making forays into VR experimentation. Examples of recent releases are<a href="http://www.thisisthenest.com/ltbaw-2017" target="_blank"> Let This Be A Warning</a> and <a href="https://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/other-dakar-2017" target="_blank">The Other Dakar. </a>
Photos: African innovations that could change the world
Virtual Reality – VR has the potential to change many industries. One example is mining, a profession which has its dangers and risks. In an effort to create a safe yet accurate training environment, a team at the University of Pretoria, South Africa have a created the continent's first VR mine. The center allows students and mining staff to train in a simulated mining environment. African filmmakers are also making forays into VR experimentation. Examples of recent releases are Let This Be A Warning and The Other Dakar.
Hide Caption
4 of 15
'Made in Africa' cars are on the rise. Mobius Motors, pictured above, are a Kenyan based car company who are releasing the second model of their stripped-down, cost-effective but luxury SUV built for rough terrains. They aim to sell the car to the African mass market, and anywhere else in the world with poor quality roads. <br /><br /><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/14/africa/mobius-made-in-africa-kenya-suv/index.html">Read more</a> about Africa's car industries.
Photos: African innovations that could change the world
Africa's homegrown car industry – 'Made in Africa' cars are on the rise. Mobius Motors, pictured above, are a Kenyan based car company who are releasing the second model of their stripped-down, cost-effective but luxury SUV built for rough terrains. They aim to sell the car to the African mass market, and anywhere else in the world with poor quality roads.

Read more about Africa's car industries.
Hide Caption
5 of 15