Misplaced Pages

#625374

65-514: Appropriate technology has been used to address issues in a wide range of fields. Well-known examples of appropriate technology applications include: bike- and hand-powered water pumps (and other self-powered equipment ), the bicycle , the universal nut sheller , self-contained solar lamps and streetlights , and passive solar building designs . Today appropriate technology is often developed using open source principles, which have led to open-source appropriate technology (OSAT) and thus many of

130-541: A basal metabolic rate of around 80 watts . During a bicycle race, an elite cyclist can produce around 440 watts of mechanical power over an hour and track cyclists in short bursts over 2500 watts; modern racing bicycles have greater than 95% mechanical efficiency . An adult of good fitness is more likely to average between 50 and 150 watts for an hour of vigorous exercise. Over an 8-hour work shift, an average, healthy, well-fed and motivated manual laborer may sustain an output of around 75 watts of power . However,

195-682: A Committee for the Application of Intermediate Technology in 1976 and the World Health Organization established the Appropriate Technology for Health Program in 1977. Appropriate technology was also increasingly applied in developed countries. For example, the energy crisis of the mid-1970s led to the creation of the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) in 1977 with an initial appropriation of 3 million dollars from

260-537: A certain duration of time⁠ is interesting to engineers designing work operations in industry. Human-powered transport includes bicycles , rowing , skiing and many other forms of mobility. Human-powered equipment is occasionally used to generate, and sometimes to store, electrical energy for use where no other source of power is available. These include the Gibson girl survival radio , wind-up or (clockwork) radio and pedal radio. Normal human metabolism produces heat at

325-431: A feeling of self-determination, self-respect, self-reliance and enthusiasm. Unless people are involved in the process of development and are given a chance to do something worthwhile, to grasp new ideas, acquire new skills and develop a sense of their own worth, no society can move out of misery and poverty" "Indeed, development is almost a meaningless word when a large percentage of the population can neither contribute to

390-665: A few enthusiasts like George McRobie, Alfred Latham-Koenig and Mansur Hoda along with E. F Schumacher to create an advisory centre to promote the use of labour-intensive technologies. In 1966, the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) – now known as Practical Action – was born. In 1968, along with his brother Surur Hoda , and helped by Schumacher, he formed the India Development Group UK , which runs rural development programmes in India with

455-517: A human treading paddles set into its circumference (treadmill), or by a human standing inside it (treadwheel). Some devices use human power. They may directly use mechanical power from muscles, or a generator may convert energy generated by the body into electrical power. Human-powered equipment primarily consists of electrical appliances which can be powered by electricity generated by human muscle power as an alternative to conventional sources of electricity such as disposable primary batteries and

520-732: A mid-tech approach to distinguish between low-tech and hi-tech polarities. Inspired by E.F. Schumacher, they argue that mid-tech could be understood as an inclusive middle that may go beyond the two polarities, combining the efficiency and versatility of digital/automated technology with low-tech's potential for autonomy and resilience. Some of the well known practitioners of the appropriate technology sector include: B.V. Doshi , Buckminster Fuller , William Moyer (1933–2002), Amory Lovins , Sanoussi Diakité , Albert Bates , Victor Papanek , Giorgio Ceragioli (1930–2008), Frithjof Bergmann , Arne Næss , (1912–2009), Mansur Hoda , and Laurie Baker . Schumacher's initial concept of intermediate technology

585-449: 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

650-495: A particular social or cultural environment, sparing use of natural resources, low cost of final product or high potential for employment." Today, the OECD web site redirects from the "Glossary of Statistical Terms" entry on "appropriate technology" to "environmentally sound technologies." The United Nations' "Index to Economic and Social Development" also redirects from the "appropriate technology" entry to "sustainable development." Despite

715-419: A potential cause of increasing poverty and income inequality in developing countries. In many countries, this influx of technology had increased the overall economic capacity of the country. However, it had created a dual or two-tiered economy with pronounced division between the classes. The foreign technology imports were only benefiting a small minority of urban elites. This was also increasing urbanization with

SECTION 10

#1733085712626

780-714: A sustainable living environment. Use of these cities' waste material allows the gathering of a huge amount of building material at a low cost. When obtained, the materials may be recycled over and over in the own city/community, using the cradle to cradle design method. Locations where waste can be found include landfills , junkyards , on water surfaces and anywhere around towns or near highways. Organic waste that can be reused to fertilise plants can be found in sewages. Also, town districts and other places ( e.g. , cemeteries ) that are subject of undergoing renovation or removal can be used for gathering materials as stone, concrete, or potassium. Self-powered equipment Human power

845-414: Is supercapacitors , now being used in some devices such as the mechanically powered flashlight shown here. Devices that store the energy mechanically, rather than electrically, include clockwork radios with a mainspring, which is wound up by a crank and turns a generator to power the radio. An early example of regular use of human-powered electrical equipment is in early telephone systems; current to ring

910-578: Is no electrical grid and replacement batteries are hard to obtain, such as in developing countries or remote settlements. They are also useful where a radio is not used on a regular basis and batteries would deteriorate, such as at a vacation house or cabin. Windup radios designed for emergency use often include flashlights , blinking emergency lights, and emergency sirens. They also may include multiple alternate power sources, such as disposable or rechargeable batteries , cigarette lighter receptacles , and solar cells . The pedal radio (or pedal wireless )

975-478: Is no longer funded by the US government. In more recent years, the appropriate technology movement has continued to decline in prominence. The German Appropriate Technology Exchange (GATE) and Holland's Technology Transfer for Development (TOOL) are examples of organizations no longer in operation. Recently, a study looked at the continued barriers to AT deployment despite the relatively low cost of transferring information in

1040-421: Is often cited as the "father" of the appropriate technology movement. Though the concept had not been given a name, Gandhi advocated for small, local and predominantly village-based technology to help India's villages become self-reliant. He disagreed with the idea of technology that benefited a minority of people at the expense of the majority or that put people out of work to increase profit. In 1925 Gandhi founded

1105-812: Is the charity CEAS (Centre Ecologique Albert Schweitzer). A pioneer in food transformation and solar heaters, it offers vocational training in West Africa and Madagascar. There is also currently a notable resurgence as viewed by the number of groups adopting open source appropriate technology (OSAT) because of the enabling technology of the Internet. These OSAT groups include: Akvo Foundation , Appropedia, The Appropriate Technology Collaborative , Catalytic Communities , Centre for Alternative Technology , Center For Development Alternatives, Engineers Without Borders , Open Source Ecology , Practical Action , and Village Earth . Most recently ASME , Engineers Without Borders (USA) and

1170-439: Is the rate of work or energy that is produced from the human body . It can also refer to the power (rate of work per time) of a human. Power comes primarily from muscles , but body heat is also used to do work like warming shelters , food, or other humans. World records of power performance by humans are of interest to work planners and work-process engineers . The average level of human power that can be maintained over

1235-482: 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." A closely related concept is social technology , defined as "products, techniques and/or re-applicable methodologies developed in the interaction with the community and that must represent effective solution in terms of social transformation". Further, Kostakis et al. propose

1300-785: Is used in developed countries is "appropriate and sustainable technology" (AST), appropriate technology that, besides being functional and relatively cheap (though often more expensive than true AT), is durable and employs renewable resources . AT does not include this (see Sustainable design ). 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 . Besides using natural, locally available resources ( e.g. , wood or adobe), waste materials imported from cities using conventional (and inefficient) waste management may be gathered and re-used to build

1365-471: The IEEE have joined together to produce Engineering for Change , which facilitates the development of affordable, locally appropriate and sustainable solutions to the most pressing humanitarian challenges. Appropriate technology frequently serves as an umbrella term for a variety names for this type of technology. Frequently these terms are used interchangeably; however, the use of one term over another can indicate

SECTION 20

#1733085712626

1430-480: The bicycle , wheelchair , walking , skateboard , wheelbarrow , rowing , skis , and rickshaw . Some forms may utilize more than one person. The historical galley was propelled by freemen or citizens in ancient times, and by slaves captured by pirates in more recent times. The MacCready Gossamer Condor was the first human-powered aircraft capable of controlled and sustained flight, making its first flight in 1977. In 2007, Jason Lewis of Expedition 360 became

1495-496: The electrical grid . Such devices contain electric generators or an induction system to recharge their batteries . Separate crank-operated generators are now available to recharge battery-powered portable electronic devices such as mobile phones . Others, such as mechanically powered flashlights , have the generator integrated within the device. Wrist watches can use muscle power to keep their mainsprings wound up. An alternative to rechargeable batteries for electricity storage

1560-657: The All-India Spinners Association and in 1935 he retired from politics to form the All-India Village Industries Association. Both organizations focused on village-based technology similar to the future appropriate technology movement. China also implemented policies similar to appropriate technology during the reign of Mao Zedong and the following Cultural Revolution . During the Cultural Revolution, development policies based on

1625-673: The Indian government and leading development economists. Spurred to action over concern the idea of intermediate technology would languish, Schumacher, George McRobie, Mansur Hoda and Julia Porter brought together a group of approximately 20 people to form the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) in May 1965. Later that year, a Schumacher article published in The Observer garnered significant attention and support for

1690-518: The Industrial Revolution, developed countries embarked on a campaign of massive transfers of capital and technology to developing countries in order to force a rapid industrialization intended to result in an economic "take-off" in the developing countries. However, by the late 1960s it was becoming clear this development method had not worked as expected and a growing number of development experts and national policy makers were recognizing it as

1755-533: The Intermediate Technology Group. After working for Indian Railways for ten years, he joined Bihar government as Inspector of Factories. Mansur Hoda was greatly influenced by E. F. Schumacher of Small Is Beautiful fame. Mansur Hoda was absolutely convinced by the Schumacher's concept of intermediate technology or appropriate technology – something between the sickle and the combine harvester,

1820-568: The U.S. Congress. The Center sponsored appropriate technology demonstrations to "help low-income communities find better ways to do things that will improve the quality of life, and that will be doable with the skills and resources at hand." However, by 1981 the NCAT's funding agency, Community Services Administration, had been abolished. For several decades NCAT worked with the US departments of Energy and Agriculture on contract to develop appropriate technology programs. Since 2005, NCAT's informational web site

1885-478: The amount of resistance offered by the machine. The amount of energy generated is so small compared to industrial power sources that the cost of conversion equipment makes it financially impractical. For example, supplying an average United States home solely with electricity generated from exercise equipment for one day would require more than a hundred people to ride stationary bicycles for all of it. Several forms of transport utilize human power. They include

1950-550: The appropriate technology movement grew out of the energy crisis of the 1970s and focuses mainly on environmental and sustainability issues. Today the idea is multifaceted; in some contexts, appropriate technology can be described as the simplest level of technology that can achieve the intended purpose, whereas in others, it can refer to engineering that takes adequate consideration of social and environmental ramifications. The facets are connected through robustness and sustainable living . Indian ideological leader Mahatma Gandhi

2015-497: The appropriate technology umbrella include: A variety of competing definitions exist in academic literature and organization and government policy papers for each of these terms. However, the general consensus is appropriate technology encompasses the ideas represented by the above list. Furthermore, the use of one term over another in referring to an appropriate technology can indicate ideological bias or emphasis on particular economic or social variables. Some terms inherently emphasize

Appropriate technology - Misplaced Pages Continue

2080-549: The decline, several appropriate technology organizations are still in existence, including the ITDG which became Practical Action after a name change in 2005. Skat (Schweizerische Kontaktstelle für Angepasste Technology) adapted by becoming a private consultancy in 1998, though some Intermediate Technology activities are continued by Skat Foundation through the Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN). Another actor still very active

2145-512: The development and promotion of appropriate technology. By 1980, this number had grown to more than 1,000. International agencies and government departments were also emerging as major innovators in appropriate technology, indicating its progression from a small movement fighting against the established norms to a legitimate technological choice supported by the establishment. For example, the Inter-American Development Bank created

2210-405: The drawback that the survivor had to be fit enough to turn the crank. Survival radios were invented and deployed by both sides during the war. The SCR-578 (and the similar post-war AN/CRT-3) survival radio transmitters carried by aircraft on over-water operations were given the nickname " Gibson Girl " because of their "hourglass" shape, which allowed them to be held stationary between the legs while

2275-478: The electrical grid. In the most common arrangement, an internal electric generator is run by a mainspring, which is wound by a hand crank on the case. Turning the crank winds the spring and a full winding will allow several hours of operation. Alternatively, the generator can charge an internal battery. Radios powered by handcranked generators are not new, but their market was previously seen as limited to emergency or military organizations. The modern clockwork radio

2340-503: The first commercial model. The key to its design, which is no longer in use, was the use of a constant-velocity spring to store the potential energy . After Baylis lost control of his invention when Baygen became Freeplay, the Freeplay Energy units switched to disposable batteries charged by cheaper hand-crank generators. Like other self-powered equipment, windup radios were intended for camping , emergencies and for areas where there

2405-409: The first person to circumnavigate the globe at non-polar latitudes using only human power—walking, biking, and rollerblading across the landmasses; and swimming, kayaking, rowing, and using a 26-foot-long pedal-powered boat to cross the oceans. Treadwheels , also called treadmills, are engines or machines powered by humans. These may resemble a water wheel in appearance, and can be worked either by

2470-506: The generator handle was turned. During World War II , U.S. troops sometimes employed hand crank generators, GN-35 and GN-45, to power Signal Corps Radio transmitter/receivers . The hand cranking was laborious, but generated sufficient current for smaller radio sets, such as the SCR-131, SCR-161, SCR-171, SCR-284 , and SCR-694 . A windup radio or clockwork radio is a radio that is powered by human muscle power rather than batteries or

2535-468: The group. In 1967, the group published the Tools for Progress: A Guide to Small-scale Equipment for Rural Development and sold 7,000 copies. ITDG also formed panels of experts and practitioners around specific technological needs (such as building construction, energy and water) to develop intermediate technologies to address those needs. At a conference hosted by the ITDG in 1968 the term "intermediate technology"

2600-631: The harm black-lung disease inflicted on the miners. However it was his work with developing countries, such as India and Burma , which helped Schumacher form the underlying principles of appropriate technology. Schumacher first articulated the idea of "intermediate technology," now known as appropriate technology, in a 1962 report to the Indian Planning Commission in which he described India as long in labor and short in capital, calling for an "intermediate industrial technology" that harnessed India's labor surplus. Schumacher had been developing

2665-681: The help of the Indian business community in Britain. In 1972, he left his higher studies MSc in Nuclear Science, Surrey University and a lucrative career to establish and run the Appropriate Technology unit at the Gandhian Institute in Varanasi , India on request of Jayaprakash Narayan , the leading Gandhian in India. During his visit to India Development Group, UK, Jayaprakash Narayan met Mansur Hoda and persuaded him to return to India and carry out

Appropriate technology - Misplaced Pages Continue

2730-576: The hoe and the tractor – as the only feasible solution to the problems of massive unemployment that haunted India and other developing countries. In an article published in The Observer , E. F. Schumacher had strongly advocated for the "intermediate technologies" focusing on the need and skills possessed by the people of developing countries. He rejected the conventional aid policies which were based on transfer of modern large-scale technologies to poor countries lacking technical skills and mass market for them. This article aroused much interest and encouraged

2795-520: The idea of "walking on two legs" advocated the development of both large-scale factories and small-scale village industries. Despite these early examples, Dr. Ernst Friedrich "Fritz" Schumacher is credited as the founder of the appropriate technology movement. A well-known economist, Schumacher worked for the British National Coal Board for more than 20 years, where he blamed the size of the industry's operations for its uncaring response to

2860-509: The idea of intermediate technology for several years prior to the Planning Commission report. In 1955, following a stint as an economic advisor to the government of Burma, he published the short paper "Economics in a Buddhist Country," his first known critique of the effects of Western economics on developing countries. In addition to Buddhism, Schumacher also credited his ideas to Gandhi. Initially, Schumacher's ideas were rejected by both

2925-428: The ideals of appropriate technology), declared appropriate technology dead in a 2010 blog post. Polak argues the " design for the other 90 percent " movement has replaced appropriate technology. Growing out of the appropriate technology movement, designing for the other 90 percent advocates the creation of low-cost solutions for the 5.8 billion of the world's 6.8 billion population "who have little or no access to most of

2990-462: The importance of increased employment and labor utilization (such as labor-intensive or capital-saving technology), while others may emphasize the importance of human development (such as self-help and people's technology). It is also possible to distinguish between hard and soft technologies. According to Dr. Maurice Albertson and Audrey Faulkner, appropriate hard technology is "engineering techniques, physical structures, and machinery that meet

3055-491: The internet age. The barriers have been identified as: AT seen as inferior or "poor person's" technology, technical transferability and robustness of AT, insufficient funding, weak institutional support, and the challenges of distance and time in tackling rural poverty. A more free market -centric view has also begun to dominate the field. For example, Paul Polak , founder of International Development Enterprises (an organization that designs and manufactures products that follow

3120-686: The nation's progress nor benefit from it". In 1983, Mansur Hoda help set up the Gandhi Foundation in London. He returned to India to set up the Schumacher Institute of Appropriate Technology (SIAT) in Lucknow. This institute trained young villagers in micro enterprises and rural skills. It included repairing of farm equipment, pumps, and scooters. It also contributed to health sector by training for primary healthcare. Under Mansur, SIAT also pioneered in

3185-417: The number of new appropriate technology organizations founded each year was three times greater than the previous nine years. There was also an increase in organizations focusing on applying appropriate technology to the problems of industrialized nations, particularly issues related to energy and the environment. In 1977, the OECD identified in its Appropriate Technology Directory 680 organizations involved in

3250-574: The plans of the technology can be freely found on the Internet . OSAT has been proposed as a new model of enabling innovation for sustainable development . Appropriate technology is most commonly discussed in its relationship to economic development and as an alternative to technology transfer of more capital -intensive technology from industrialized nations to developing countries . However, appropriate technology movements can be found in both developing and developed countries. In developed countries,

3315-404: The potential yield of human electric power is decreased by the inefficiency of any generator device, since all real generators incur losses during the energy conversion process. It is possible to use exercise equipment for power generation, by attaching the moving parts to components of electric generators ; some home gym equipment uses DC generators to power readouts, displays, and control

SECTION 50

#1733085712626

3380-671: The products and services many of us take for granted." Many of the ideas integral to appropriate technology can now be found in the increasingly popular " sustainable development " movement, which among many tenets advocates technological choice that meets human needs while preserving the environment for future generations . In 1983, the OECD published the results of an extensive survey of appropriate technology organizations titled, The World of Appropriate Technology, in which it defined appropriate technology as characterized by "low investment cost per work-place, low capital investment per unit of output, organizational simplicity, high adaptability to

3445-478: The remote bell was provided by a subscriber cranking a handle on the telephone, which turned a small magneto generator. Human-powered devices are useful as emergency equipment, when natural disaster, war, or civil disturbance make regular power supplies unavailable. They have also been seen as economical for use in poor countries, where batteries may be expensive and mains electricity unreliable or unavailable. They are also an environmentally preferable alternative to

3510-436: The rural poor moving to urban cities in hope of more financial opportunities. The increased strain on urban infrastructures and public services led to "increasing squalor, severe impacts on public health and distortions in the social structure." Appropriate technology was meant to address four problems: extreme poverty, starvation, unemployment and urban migration. Schumacher saw the main purpose for economic development programs

3575-433: The specific focus, bias or agenda of the technological choice in question. Though the original name for the concept now known as appropriate technology, "intermediate technology" is now often considered a subset of appropriate technology that focuses on technology that is more productive than "inefficient" traditional technologies, but less costly than the technology of industrialized societies. Other types of technology under

3640-502: The use of disposable batteries, which are a wasteful source of energy and may introduce heavy metals into the environment. Communication is a common application for the relatively small amount of electric power that can be generated by a human turning a generator. The World War II-era Gibson girl survival radio used a hand-cranked generator to provide power; this avoided the unreliable performance of dry-cell batteries that might be stored for months before they were needed, although it had

3705-419: The use of technology and engineering that result in less negative impacts on the environment and society, i.e. , technology should be both environmentally sustainable and socially appropriate. E. F. Schumacher asserts that such technology, described in the book Small Is Beautiful , tends to promote values such as health , beauty and permanence, in that order. Often the type of appropriate technology that

3770-729: The work, which could help millions of poor Indians. Schumacher travelled with him to deliver a series of lectures. 1976, encourage with responses, an enlarged unit was established in Lucknow and named Appropriate Technology Development Association,(ATDA) with Mansur Hoda as its first director. It worked on improving and inventing number of rural and green technologies, including cotton spinning, renewable energy ( solar cooker and biogas ) and cycle rickshaw transport. Development of improved mini sugar factories, and an efficient 20-ton-a-day cement plant, using local raw material and making high-quality Portland cement brought international fame. Mansur Hoda

3835-575: Was a highly important invention, as it was this technology that enabled the Royal Flying Doctor Service , and later the School of the Air , linking people living remotely to emergency services and education. Mansur Hoda Mansur Hoda (1930–2001) was born in a middle-class Muslim family in the Indian city of Chhapra , Bihar . Mansur Hoda as a student, had worked as a research volunteer for

3900-468: Was a radio transmitter-receiver powered by a pedal-driven generator. It was developed by South Australian engineer and inventor Alfred Traeger in 1929 as a way of providing radio communications to remote homesteads and cattle stations in the Australian outback . There were no mains or generator power available at the time and batteries to provide the power required would have been too expensive. It

3965-663: Was a strong advocate of "Production by masses instead of Mass Production". In his address to the International Conference on the Indian Government's document, Approach to the Five Year Plan 1974–79 , held at the Imperial College , London, Mansur Hoda pointed out, "Development does not only mean increased production of goods- but also the development of people – the stimulation of their innate abilities, giving them

SECTION 60

#1733085712626

4030-483: Was created as a critique of the currently prevailing development strategies which focused on maximizing aggregate economic growth through increases to overall measurements of a country's economy, such as gross domestic product (GDP). Developed countries became aware of the situation of developing countries during and in the years following World War II . Based on the continuing rise in income levels in Western countries since

4095-550: Was designed and patented in 1991 by British inventor Trevor Baylis as a response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. He envisioned it as a radio for use by poor people in developing countries, especially in Africa , without access to batteries. In 1994, British accountant Chris Staines and his South African partner, Rory Stear, secured the worldwide license to the invention and cofounded Baygen Power Industries (now Freeplay Energy Ltd), which produced

4160-497: Was discarded in favor of the term "appropriate technology" used today. Intermediate technology had been criticized as suggesting the technology was inferior to advanced (or high) technology and not including the social and political factors included in the concept put forth by the proponents. In 1973, Schumacher described the concept of appropriate technology to a mass audience in his influential work Small Is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered . Between 1966 and 1975

4225-423: Was the eradication of extreme poverty and he saw a clear connection between mass unemployment and extreme poverty. Schumacher sought to shift development efforts from a bias towards urban areas and on increasing the output per laborer to focusing on rural areas (where a majority of the population still lived) and on increasing employment. The term appropriate technology is also used in developed nations to describe

#625374