The uBox was created by Goutam Reddy and Sara Cinnamon at MIT in 2007.
We initially designed the uBox for treating tuberculosis in India with Innovators In Health and the Prajnopaya Foundation. The uBox went on to win the Yunus Challenge to Alleviate Poverty and two years of work culminated in a 200-patient trial at the end of 2008.
We knew the uBox could help those in the U.S. as well across a range of medical conditions. However, we quickly found the greatest need around addiction -- both prevention and recovery.
The name of uBox comes from our origins in India; the u stands for upaya, which means roughly "compassion through skillful means" in Sanskrit.
It stems from the Buddhist principle of providing care for all, and improving well-being through technology driven by empathy and understanding. Upaya drives every decision we make for the uBox, and our users.
'Greddy' devised the overall architecture of the uBox system, including designing the electronics and firmware of the uBox and uKey. Greddy holds past EE design experience from working with the Biomechatronics Group at the MIT Media Lab. He also has relevant developing-world experience from Developing World Prosthetics, a non-profit he co-founded to improve low-cost rehabilitation devices. Greddy received a Master’s (EECS) and dual-major Bachelor’s in Mathematics and EECS from MIT. He is deeply passionate about using the uBox to affect positive behavior change, and make an authentic impact on improving people’s health and lives. Greddy lives in Chicago, and enjoys kitesurfing and chai.
- Paul Michel, Tech Cocktail
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- Patti, 50s
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