The robot Diina, the beloved mascot of the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu's Health School, is set to evolve through a collaboration with EspluLab. The android, initially repaired for minor defects, will be upgraded with mobility and speech to become an interactive element, making health learning more accessible and friendly for children.
“"It has a crooked antenna, and like many children in the hospital, they are fully people, but something is failing them."
The community-driven project involves local residents, known as 'fabricaires', working on three main challenges. Beyond enhancing Diina, the other two focus on updating educational materials about blood coagulation for families dealing with congenital coagulopathies, and improving the travel kit for tracheostomized children using 3D printing.
“"We put the pot on, and among all the people, we make the broth. It is from the citizenry to the citizenry. These children are suffering from an illness, and other neighbors are creating precisely for them. It's like a wonderful circle."
The coagulation challenge will result in a didactic box featuring 3D printed cells (platelets, lymphocytes) and a transparent frame, allowing families to visually understand how clotting works and what happens when specific factors are missing. This initiative ensures that technological solutions remain empathetic and patient-focused.
