Low-cost ventilator to help patients suffering from Covid-19

My brother, a biomedical engineer, and the director of University of Florida's Centre for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies, designed with the help of his colleagues, a low-cost ventilator that can be assembled from parts bought in a hardware store.

Please pass this around if you know any person, preferably with engineering background, who can volunteer to build it in any part of the world that is running out of ventilators. It will save many lives.

Please be aware that this product is not fully tested. It's being shared because of the current state of emergency due to Covid-19, and the predicted ventilator shortage worldwide. Updates are available on the site:

https://simulation.health.ufl.edu/technology-development/open-source-ventilator-project/

More info about this DIY ventilator in his interview here:

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200325/uf-researchers-design-low-cost-diy-ventilator

Let's all do our share in helping to stop the spread of this virus. 

Keep safe with social-distancing and self-isolation. 

A video of Sem speaking on behalf of University of Florida Health faculty to explain the concept.

New update on the ventilator on April 8, 2020

Spring hope, renewal and love

On a walk by the ravine, 

keeping six feet apart from others,

reflecting on the horrors of the pandemic flu,

the long weeks of social distancing and self-isolation,

I saw hope in this constellation of white buds

eager to sprout from the chaos of dead leaves.

I saw life renewed in spring sunshine,

felt the warmth of those dear to me,

their silent presence 

in my heart.

Lin Fengmian: the uncle I wish I had met

In the last week, I saw a few documentaries about the life of Lin Fengmian, a cousin of my father. He is hailed internationally as the artist who started modern art in China by blending western techniques and traditional Chinese art.

I wish I had met this incredibly talented uncle whose work and life fascinate me. But we lived in different countries, and a generation gap, and cultural differences separated us.

He had already passed away by the time relatives showed me the wide range of his work. I was sad that I never had a chance to meet him. As an artist, I felt an immediate affinity for his watercolours, and the moods he created with the harmonious movements of his brush.

I learned from the documentaries that traumatic events marked his life. I imagine painting was a healing force that helped him express his pain, and make life bearable, and even enjoyable.

These documentaries are in French. For those not familiar with French, and interested in his art, you can see samples of his work in those films.

Lin Fengmian: Combattre pour l'art

Lin Fenmian: S'approcher de l'art pur

Lin Fengmian: Hanté par calvaires

Lin Fengmian: Lady in Blue Dress