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appropriate technology: Definition and Much More from Answers.com

  • ️Wed Jul 01 2015

A solar cell, made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer

Appropriate technology is technology that is appropriate to the environmental, cultural and economic situation it is intended for. An appropriate technology, in this sense, typically requires fewer resources, as well as lower cost and less impact on the environment.

Proponents use the term to describe technologies which they consider to be suitable for use in developing nations or underdeveloped rural areas of industrialized nations, which they feel cannot operate and maintain high technology. Appropriate Technology usually prefers labor-intensive solutions over capital-intensive ones, although labor-saving devices are also used where this does not mean high capital or maintenance cost.

In practice, it is often something that might be described as using the simplest level of technology that can effectively achieve the intended purpose in a particular location. However, the terminology is not very precise.

E. F. Schumacher asserts that such technology, described in the book Small is Beautiful [1] tends to promote values such as health, beauty and permanence, in that order.

What exactly constitutes appropriate technology in any given case is a matter of debate, but generally the term is used by theorists to question high technology or what they consider to be excessive mechanization, human displacement, resource depletion or increased pollution associated with industrialisation. The term has often, though not always, been applied to the situations of developing nations or underdeveloped rural areas of industrialized nations.

It could be argued that "appropriate technology" for a technologically advanced society may mean a more expensive, complex technology requiring expert maintenance and high energy inputs. However, this is not the usual meaning of the term.

Background of the term

The term came into some prominence during the 1973 energy crisis and the environmental movement of the 1970s. The economist (and former British Coal Board advisor) E. F. Schumacher of the UK was one of the originators of the concept.

A related term, intermediate technology, refers specifically to tools that cost more or are more sophisticated or complex than those currently in use in a developing nation but still much less costly, or more accessible, than those tools that would be used in a developed nation. Often, in a developing nation, this is a first step among "appropriate" criteria developed by proponents. According to proponents, it is usually "appropriate" to use only technologies that can be locally repaired.

Drexel University is the first to offer a Bachelors degree in Appropriate Technology. A degree can also be obtained at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC Deptartment of Technology.

Different usages, controversies

Intermediate technology

"Intermediate technology" can be a synonym for "appropriate technology." It was coined by E.F. Schumacher to describe technology that is at least an order of magnitude (10 times) more expensive than that prevalent in a developing nation but also at least an order of magnitude less expensive than that prevalent in a developed nation offering aid. It is a technology that proponents argue can be easily purchased and used by poor people, and according to proponents can lead to greater productivity while minimizing social dislocation. Much intermediate technology can also be built and serviced using locally available materials and knowledge.

Appropriate Hard and Soft Technologies

According to Dr. Maurice Albertson and Faulkner, appropriate hard technology is “engineering techniques, physical structures, and machinery that meet a need defined by a community, and utilize the material at hand or readily available. It can be built, operated and maintained by the local people with very limited outside assistance (e.g., technical, material, or financial). it is usually related to an economic goal.”

Albertson and Faulkner consider Appropriate soft technology as technology that deals with “the social structures, human interactive processes, and motivation techniques. It is the structure and process for social participation and action by individuals and groups in analyzing situations, making choices and engaging in choice-implementing behaviors that bring about change.” [2]

Not necessarily "low" technology

Appropriate Technology can benefit from the latest research, as with the cloth filter which was inspired by research into the way cholera is carried in water.

Sustainability

Features such as low cost, low usage of fossil fuels and use of locally available resources can give some advantages in terms of sustainability. For that reason, these technologies are sometimes used and promoted by advocates of sustainability and alternative technology.

Some appropriate technologies

For a list of articles on this topic, see Category:Appropriate technology.

Some technologies that may be considered appropriate technology in the right context:

Information and communication technology

The OLPC XO and the Simputer are computers aimed at developing countries, their primary advantage being low cost. Other relevant factors include resistance to dust, reliability and use of the target language.

Eldis OnDisc[1] and The Appropriate Technology Library[2] are projects that use CDs and DVDs to give access to development information in areas without reliable and affordable internet access.

The Wind-up radio and the computer and communication system planned by the Jhai Foundation are independent from power supply.

There is also GrameenPhone, which fused mobile telephony with Grameen Bank's microfinance program to gives Bangladeshi villagers access to communication.

Mobile telephony is appropriate technology for many developing countries, as it greatly reduces the infrastructure required to achieve widespread coverage.

Loband, a website developed by Aptivate[3] strips all the photographic and other bandwidth intensive content from webpages and renders them as simple text, while otherwise allowing you to browse them normally. The site greatly increasing the speed of browsing, and is appropriate for use on low bandwidth connections as generally available in much of the developing world.

Construction

Adobe (including the variation called Super Adobe), Rammed earth, Dutch brick, and Cob could be considered appropriate technology for much of the developing world, as they make use of materials which are widely available locally and are thus relatively inexpensive. The local context must be considered as, for example, mudbrick may not be durable in a high rainfall area (although a large roof overhang and cement stabilisation can be used to correct for this), and, if the materials are not readily available, the method may be inappropriate. Other forms of natural building may be considered appropriate technology, though in many cases the emphasis is on sustainability rather than affordability or suitability.

The organization Architecture for Humanity also follows principles consistent with appropriate technology, aiming to serve the needs of poor and disaster-affected people.

Energy

"Appropriate" energy technologies are especially suitable for isolated and/or small scale energy needs. However, high capital cost must be taken into account.

Electricity can be provided from solar cells (which are expensive initially, but simple), wind power or micro hydro, with energy stored in batteries.

Biobutanol, biodiesel and straight vegetable oil can be appropriate, direct biofuels in areas where vegetable oil is readily available and cheaper than fossil fuels.

A generator (running on biofuels) can be run more efficiently if combined with batteries and an inverter; this adds significantly to capital cost but reduces running cost, and can potentially make this a much cheaper option than the solar, wind and micro-hydro options.

Biogas is another potential source of energy, particularly where there is an abundant supply of waste organic matter.

The term soft energy technology was coined by Amory Lovins[citation needed] to describe "appropriate" renewable energy.

Lighting

The Light Up the World Foundation uses white LED lights and a source of renewable energy such as solar cells to provide lighting to poor people in remote areas, providing significant benefits compared to the kerosene lamps which they replace.

The Safe bottle lamp is a safer kerosene lamp designed in Sri Lanka. The safety comes from a secure screw-on metal lid, and two flat sides which prevent it from rolling if knocked over.

Ventilation and air conditioning

Natural ventilation can be created by providing vents in the upper level of a building to allow warm air to rise by convection and escape to the outside, while cooler air is drawn in through vents at the lower level. A solar chimney often referred to as thermal chimney improves this natural ventilation by using convection of air heated by passive solar energy. To further maximize the cooling effect, the incoming air may be led through underground ducts before it is allowed to enter the building.

A windcatcher (Badgir; بادگیر) is a traditional Persian architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings. It is not known who first invented the windcatcher, but it still can be seen in many countries today. Windcatchers come in various designs, such as the uni-directional, bi-directional, and multi-directional.

A passive down-draft cooltower may be used in a hot, arid climate to provide a sustainable way to provide air conditioning. Water is allowed to evaporate at the top of a tower, either by using evaporative cooling pads or by spraying water. Evaporation cools the incoming air, causing a downdraft of cool air that will bring down the temperature inside the building.

Food preparation

According to proponents, Appropriate Technologies can greatly reduce the labor required to prepare food, compared to traditional methods, while being much simpler and cheaper than the processing used in Western countries. This reflects E.F. Schumacher's concept of "intermediate technology," i.e. technology which is significantly more effective and expensive than traditional methods, but still an order of magnitude (10 times) cheaper than developed world technology. Key examples are the Malian peanut sheller, the fonio husking machine, and the screenless hammer mill.

Cooking

Smokeless and wood conserving stoves promise greater efficiency and less smoke, resulting in savings in time and labor, reduced deforestation, and significant health benefits. Briquette makers, of the type developed by the Legacy Foundation, can turn organic waste into fuel, saving money and/or collection time, and preserving forests.

Solar cookers are appropriate to some settings, depending on climate and cooking style.

Rocket stove improves fuel efficiency and reduces harmful indoor air pollution.

Health care

A phase-change incubator, developed in the late 1995s, is a low cost way for health workers to incubate microbial samples.

Note that many Appropriate Technologies benefit public health, in particular by providing sanitation and safe drinking water. Refrigeration may also provide a health benefit. (These are discussed in the following paragraphs.)

Refrigeration

The pot-in-pot refrigerator is an African invention which keeps things cool without electricity. It provides a way to keep food and produce fresh for much longer than would otherwise be possible. This can be a great benefit to the families who use the device. For example, it is claimed that girls who had to regularly sell fresh produce in the market can now go to school instead, as there is less urgency to sell the produce before it loses freshness.

Water supply

Appropriate Technologies for delivering water include the hippo water roller, which allows more water to be carried, with less effort; rainwater harvesting (which requires an appropriate method of storage, especially in areas with significant dry seasons); and fog collection, suitable for areas which experience fog even when there is little rain.

The roundabout playpump, developed and used in southern Africa, harnesses the energy of children at play to pump water; however at several thousand dollars it cannot be considered a low-cost option.

Handpumps and treadle pumps are generally more appropriate to developing world contexts than motor-driven pumps, and may provide better quality water with less travel time than surface water sources; however, even handpumps are often a problem, failing and left unused due to lack of maintenance. Treadle pumps for household irrigation are now being distributed on a widespread basis in developing countries by such groups as Kickstart and International Development Enterprises (IDE). The principle of Village Level Operation and Maintenance is important with handpumps, but may be difficult in application.

Water treatment

Water generally needs treatment before use, depending on the source and the intended use (with high standards required for drinking water). The quality of water from household connections and community water points in low-income countries is not reliably safe for direct human consumption. Water extracted directly from surface waters and open hand-dug shallow wells nearly always requires treatment.

Appropriate Technology options in water treatment include both community-scale and household-scale designs. Community-scale measures, particularly mixed-media filtration applications combined with ultraviolet radiation and/or reverse osmosis treatment, are reaching growing numbers of consumers throughout South and Southeast Asia.

Household water treatment and safe storage (HTWS) in particular is now promoted by a network that includes the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Community-scale measures, particularly mixed-media filtration applications combined with ultraviolet radiation and/or reverse osmosis treatment, are reaching growing numbers of consumers throughout South and Southeast Asia.

According to WHO’s Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, the most reliable way to kill microbial pathogenic agents is to heat water to a rolling boil. Other techniques, such as varying forms of filtration, chemical disinfection, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation (including solar UV) have been demonstrated in an array of randomized control trials to significantly reduce levels of waterborne disease among users in low-income countries.[3]

Over the past decade, an increasing number of field-based studies have been undertaken to determine the success of HWTS measures in reducing waterborne disease. The ability of HWTS options to reduce disease is a function of both their ability to remove microbial pathogens if properly applied and such social factors as ease of use and cultural appropriateness. Technologies may generate more (or less) health benefit than their lab-based microbial removal performance would suggest.

The current priority of the proponents of HWTS is to reach large numbers of low-income households on a sustainable basis. Few HWTS measures have reached significant scale thus far, but efforts to promote and commercially distribute these products to the world's poor have only been under way for a few years.

Sanitation

  • BiPu is a portable system suitable for disaster management, while other forms of latrine provide safe means of disposing of human waste at a low cost. The Orangi Pilot Project was designed based on an urban slum's sanitation crisis. Kamal Kar has documented the latrines developed by Bangladeshi villagers once they became aware of the health problems with open defecation.
  • Ecological sanitation can be viewed as a three-step process dealing with human excreta: (1) Containment, (2) Sanitization, (3) Recycling. The objective is to protect human health and the environment while limiting the use of water in sanitation systems for hand (and anal) washing only and recycling nutrients to help reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers in agriculture.

Transportation

The Whirlwind wheelchair provides mobility for disabled people who cannot afford the expensive wheelchairs used in developed countries. The Bicycle provides general-purpose, human-powered transportation at a lower cost of ownership than motorized vehicles, with many gains over simply walking.

See also

Some of the following links may not directly address the needs of developing world settings, but are relevant to the principles discussed here:

Programs

Development programs with an emphasis on appropriate technology include:

Organizations

For more details on this topic, see Category:Appropriate technology organizations.

Further information: Appropriate Technology Institutions and Organizations

People in this field

For more details on this topic, see Category:Appropriate technology advocates.

Prizes and competitions

Publication references

  1. ^ Schumacher, E. F.; Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered : 25 Years Later...With Commentaries. Hartley & Marks Publishers ISBN 0-88179-169-5
  2. ^ (1985, Maurice Albertson and Faulkner)
  3. ^ Clasen, T., Schmidt, W., Rabie, T., Roberts, I., Cairncross, S. Interventions to improve water quality for preventing diarrhoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal, doi:10.1136/bmj.39118.489931.BE (published 12 March 2007)

External links

Online resources

Email newsletters

Journals

Wiki and discussion sites

Wikis

  • Appropedia, a wiki aiming to be "a living library of appropriate technology." Allows material not suitable for Wikipedia, such as original research, projects, how-tos, collaborations, event notices, personal experience, and ideas.
  • Howtopedia gathers practical knowledge, as how-tos on simple technologies.

Discussion sites - non-wiki

Blogs

Links to organizations

Some of these sites have information about appropriate technologies:

Links about specific projects

‹ The template below (Sustainability and Energy Development) is being considered for deletion. See templates for deletion to help reach a consensus. ›

Sustainability and Energy development
Future 2000 Watt society · Hubbert peak · Peak oil · Kardashev scale
Transportation Air car · Alternative fuel · Alternative propulsion · Battery electric vehicle  · Bicycle  · Bioalcohol · Biodiesel · Bioethanol · Biogas · Biomass to liquid · Bus rapid transit · Community bicycle program · Ecodriving · Electric power-assist system · Electric vehicle · Hybrid electric vehicle · Hydrogen station · Hydrogen vehicle · Low-energy vehicle · Plug-in hybrid · Production battery electric vehicle · Public transport · Trolleybus · TWIKE · utility cycling · Vegetable oil used as fuel
Energy Conversion
Electricity generation Distributed generation · Microgeneration · Sustainable community energy system · Environmental concerns with electricity generation
Biological energy Anaerobic digestion · Biomass · Mechanical biological treatment
Chemical energy Blue energy · Fuel cell · Hydrogen production
Geothermal power Deep lake water cooling · Earth cooling tubes
Hydroelectricity Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity · Tidal power · Water turbine · Wave power
Nuclear power Inertial fusion power plant · Fusion · Nuclear reactor · Radioisotope thermoelectric generator
Solar energy Active solar · Barra system · Central solar heating plant · Energy tower · Ocean Thermal  · Passive solar · Passive solar building design · Photovoltaics · Photovoltaic module · Solar cell · Solar combisystem · Solar hot water panel · Solar pond · Solar power satellite · Solar power tower · Solar roof · Solar shingles · Solar thermal collector · Solar thermal energy · Solar tracker · Solar updraft tower · Trombe wall
Waste-to-energy Anaerobic digestion · Gasification · Incineration · Mechanical biological treatment · Pyrolysis
Wind power Wind farm · Wind turbine · Laddermill
Storage Batteries · Flywheel energy storage · Grid energy storage · Hydrogen storage · Seasonal thermal store · Thermal energy storage
Sustainability
Ecological footprint Ecosystem services · Ecovillage · Energy conservation  · Energy Demand Management · Green map · Human Development Index · Infrastructural capital · Permaculture · Renewable energy · Self-sufficiency · Simple living · Sustainable development · Sustainable living · The Natural Step · TPE · Value of Earth · World energy resources and consumption  · Zones (Permaculture)
Appropriate technology Air engine  · Autonomous building · Cob (building) · Composting toilet · Cool roof · Earth sheltering · Energy-efficient landscaping · Green roof · Hypermodernity · Low energy building · Passive house · Rammed earth · Sheet composting · Solar chimney · Straw-bale construction · Superinsulation · Technological singularity · Windcatcher
Sustainable agriculture Food security · Forest gardening · Humanure · List of companion plants · List of repellent plants · Seed ball · Vermicompost · Zero energy building
Sustainable design Environmental design  · Sustainable architecture · Sustainable landscape architecture
Sustainable econonomics Development economics · Green economics · Green Gross Domestic Product · Hydrogen economy · Liquid nitrogen economy · Low-carbon economy · Triple bottom line
Sustainable industries Agroforestry · Ecoforestry · Exploitation of natural resources · Green building · Green chemistry · Green computing · Industrial Ecology · Natural building · Sustainable energy · Sustainable forest management · Sustainable procurement · Sustainable transport
Sustainable waste Living machines · Mycoremediation
Management Commission on Sustainable Development · Human development theory · Intermediate Technology Development Group  · Maldevelopment · Precautionary principle · Rio Declaration on Environment and Development · Rocky Mountain Institute · Sim Van der Ryn · Underdevelopment · World Business Council for Sustainable Development · World Summit on Sustainable Development

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