Escool
Summary
According to the 2017 census, there are nearly 400,000 high-rise, low-income housing units in Chile, and, according to the CASEN survey from the same year, more than 1 million people live in overcrowded conditions. This technology is intended to be a positive contribution to children and young students living in vulnerable settings.
Escool is a low-cost, sustainable, folding desk that positively contributes to the study experience of children and young adults by optimizing available space so as to stimulate the formation of study habits. It is uniquely designed to be attached to a window frame so that students can make use of this space while also taking advantage of natural light from the window.
Moreover, because it can be folded up or down, students can make the most of their available space and use it as thermal insulation for windows in low-income housing.
Potential Applications
- Kids’ or Teen Desk
- Thermal insulator for windows in low-cost housing
Development Status
TRL 3 – Proof of Concept
Advantages
- Low production costs
- Made with sustainable materials
- Foldable for maximizing available space
- Can be placed in a window frame and be used as a thermal insulator
Opportunities
- Looking for partners interested in expanding the technology and validating it in a real environment (in an educational setting and neighboring communities).
- Available for use in educational programs and low-income housing
Intellectual Property
Invention patent process underway.
Research Team
- Sebastian Negrete, UC School of Architecture, Design and Urban Studies