Tech Meets Good: LifeStraw

By Dan Estabrook - July 7, 2008 (TNN) "Technology Meets Good" debuts as a regular Monday column on TNN.  Editor Dan takes the controls for today's article on LifeStraw. Out of the world's problems comes hope! We know that over one billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water and that 6,000 children die every year from diseases associated with unsafe drinking water. While many companies and non-profits have tackled the problem head-on (Tonic even offers a Tonic tee that supports installation of water systems and hygiene education), it is quite amazing to see innovative solutions come out of dire circumstances. Based in Switzerland, Vestergaard Frandsen's work to provide safe drinking water to the world's poor has led to one of these innovative solutions -- the LifeStraw.  The LifeStraw is a portable water purifier for prevention of common diarrhoeal disease – and can be carried around for easy access to safe and clean drinking water.  It is deemed so innovative that it received the  Saatchi & Saatchi Award for World-Changing Ideas this past February. Vestergaard Frandsen delivers products that prevent the transmission of waterborne and vector-borne diseases in developing countries. It is especially interested in addressing a class of diseases called the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), which kill many of the most vulnerable people on Earth.  The company believes that innovating for the developing world results in a sound business model for profitability. As I look at this technology, I cannot help but think about how valuable this portable life-saver will be in natural disasters, war-torn areas, and other situations where the water supply is less-than-adequate.  Hell, I'd love to have one in my backpack! I remember hearing how the race to the Moon in the 1960s resulted in innovative consumer products (if you call Tang innovative).  It gives me greater hope that through product development and distribution for solving problems in the developing world today, we gain solutions helpful for everyone on our planet. How cool is that?!