Darcy Martinez
Biology 1090 Monday
Ted Talks Critique # 1
Ludwick Marishane: A bath without water
Ludwick Marishane was just a normal 17 year old in a small town in Limpopo, South Africa when he got the idea to invent a product that could eliminate bathing— for individuals that had the luxury to deny a bath and for the less fortunate who have no access to water.
In this video he provides the inspiration behind his brilliant invention and how he was able to attain a final product that could potentially save the world, or just enable a lazy human being.
After the research that he conducted using his cellphone device (no laptop and internet access available only at a nearby café) he was able to compile a significant amount of statistics and most them regarding the lack of sufficient access to water for most of the world’s population. Ludwick informs us that 2.5 billion people, globally do not have access to water and proper sanitation, 450 million of these people are located in Africa and 5 million of them located in his native South Africa.
Upon gaining this knowledge Ludwick also discusses a disease that is spread through these poor conditions and that disease being, Trachoma. This disease infects 350 million people annually and leaves 8 million of them that develop infections are left blind. For these reasons Ludwick felt he needed to change the world.
Four years after his idea was created, Ludwick had written a forty page business plan, attained a patent for his product and was negotiating with a global distributer. He was also able to make his product affordable and attainable to the needy people that he wanted to help out.
I found this video incredibly inspiring-- not only for an aspiring entrepreneur, but for anyone that wants to make a difference in this world. Ludwick was very charismatic and had great presence. I enjoyed watching this video and learning about his company, his story and the positive change his product could do in many places of the world.
He did mention in his video that most of his research was found on Google and Wikipedia which don’t have the most credible reputation. Thus his statistics could be inaccurate and deceiving. Although, most people in the western hemisphere are aware that these poor and sad conditions do exist. I personally don’t care if the facts came from those sources because I’m aware that these people need help. Another individual would require more credible sources for his facts to purchase his product or provide him with sufficient credibility.
http://www.ted.com/talks/ludwick_marishane_a_bath_without_water.html
