Mada Innovation Program: A Go-to-Market ecosystem for Arabic Accessibility Solutions

Fabrication laboratories (FabLabs) are utilized to materialize concepts. They can improve cognitive and creative abilities when used in a design-learning situation. Numerous studies have attempted to comprehend the relationship between makerspaces and creativity in a variety of disciplines, with the capacity to generate innovative consequences in makerspaces dependent on creativity. However, a comprehensive study that provides a holistic perspective on the contributions of labs as inclusive places that stimulate creativity for people with disabilities is absent. In order to address this study gap, the paper that follows provides an overview of FabLabs, makerspaces, and creativity and introduce the first of its kind MadaFabLab, as the first inclusive fablab in the world designed and tailored for innovators with disabilities "MadaFabLab". The studies revealed that fablabs contribute to the development of creative person, product, physical, and social surroundings, as well as creative process. In add ition, the MadaFabLab, a novel inclusive idea, fosters problem-solving, collaborative, and communication skills, and offers appealing locations and tools for the development of creative solutions to real-world challenges and needs identified by people with disabilities. We identified and analyzed five important themes pertaining to technical skills, technological and environmental factors, STEM learning, and skill development, and focused on their significance for fostering creativity in an inclusive FabLab.

Section: Madafablabmentioning

confidence: 99%

MadFabLab: an inclusive STEM and fabrication environment for creativity and innovation and its impact on persons with disabilities

Othman¹,

Ahmed²,

Al-Mohannadi³

2022

“…One example of real-life practices for the DIY Assistive technology centers is MadaFablab (Al Thani et al, 2019) which is the first hands-on inclusive technology and digital fabrication space in the world. The lab contains all the digital fabrication machines required to create prototypes.…”

Section: Nafathmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital Fabrication and Assistive Technology

Jamaa¹

2021

“…Mada provided the 3D Tawasol Symbols for the A-Learn application under the direct grant stream of the Mada Innovation Program (Al-Thani et al, 2019). Tawasol Symbols is a bilingual Arabic / English symbol dictionary of frequently used words in spoken and written communication (in Arabic) represented by images and pictograms .…”

Section: D Aac Pictograms From Tawasol Symbolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Learn App: Mobile augmented reality vocabulary learning application - Supported through Mada Innovation Program

Al-Thani

Othman²,

Mohannadi³

et al. 2021

Self Cite

In cooperation with its strategic partners, Mada Center works to identify the needs of persons with disabilities for assistive technology and digital access solutions in Arabic. The center has supported start-ups and entrepreneurs to localize technological devices and solutions through the Mada Innovation Program, with the aim of improving digital accessibility for PWDs at the local, regional and international levels. This year, Mada and HBKU worked together to develop a mobile app using augmented reality technology and for the first time three dimensional AAC Symbols for learning purpose. The app is named A-Learn developed by Dr. Kamran Khowaja, Dr. Dena Al-Thani, and Dr. Siti Salwah Salim from Hamad Bin Khalifa University.