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Category: data

Adding metadata to individual device entries

Published August 4, 2025 by Liz Henry

The DIY information that the GOAT team has been scanning and cataloguing is in book-sized chunks right now. So, you can go to the Internet Archive to our scanned material, and search on a term — for example, “woodworking“, or “clothing” and you’ll be able to view the entire book. 

Our goal, though, is to be able to search for individual devices. Our next project is to pull out those devices and add metadata to them. We’re testing that now on a small scale! Check out the DIY Big Index page. While there are only a few devices there for now, you may be able to see the potential! 

We will end up with an easy way to search for every record we’ve got on how to build a standing frame, a fork extender, or a cup holder. Anyone can then comment on the designs, add photos or links to videos, and so on, to show their own builds and contribute improvements, variations, and other suggestions. 

Those entries don’t have to be limited to information we’ve scanned. We can index and host archive copies from other sources too, and include open source software and hardware projects, like those from OpenMedTech or Open Source Wheelchairs!

We will be hosting an event soon to invite volunteers to help us categorize and label devices. If you’re interested, please comment here or email liz@openassistivetech.org!

 

 

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Open data for CPAP machines

Published April 25, 2025 by Liz Henry

OSCAR looks like a great project; well maintained with many different CPAP machines supported. It has a lively community as well at ApneaBoard.

This is another great example of machines we depend on, that are very intimately entwined with our lives, and that produce a lot of data. What data? Where is that data going? Who has access to it? Manufacturers seem to assume that the users of this equipment won’t want or need their own data. But the more open the platform is, the more possible tools we can develop!

OSCAR is an acronym that stands for, “Open Source CPAP Analysis Reporter”. OSCAR provides for the viewing of the high-resolution sleep data that is generated by the CPAP and stored on the SD card. OSCAR converts this data to graph form allowing the user to view this data down to a breath by breath level. OSCAR is free to use and is compiled in formats that will operate on Mac, Linux, and Windows. OSCAR can be downloaded from https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/. It is this information that enables you to provide data for discussion with your doctor and/or to view and optimize your personal therapy.

OSCAR is also used by many physicians and therapists who consult with patients, and by medical researchers comparing patient/machine responses across multiple platforms. OSCAR provides visual and statistical data details and enables comparisons across machine types and manufacturers, that are not available from proprietary manufacturer software and data products. Professionals who rely on OSCAR to provide research and to serve patient needs will lose this valuable resource if data becomes inaccessible, or only available through the manufacturer’s data products.

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