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, which means lower cost and less impact on the environment.
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, which means lower cost and less impact on the environment.
It is usually used to describe technologies which are suitable for use in developing nations or underdeveloped rural areas of industrialized nations, which may lack the money and specialised expertise to operate and maintain high technology. Labor-intensive solutions are usually preferred to capital-intensive ones, although labor-saving devices are also important where this does not mean high capital or maintenance cost.
In practice, it is often something that might be described as using the simplest and most benign level of technology that can effectively achieve the intended purpose in a particular location.
The terminology is not very precise. Isolated rural communities in developed nations may also benefit by using some of the same technologies. On the other hand, large cities in developing countries may find it more appropriate to use technologies usually found in wealthy countries. An expensive technology may be the most appropriate in a wealthy community with the ability to pay for and maintain it.
Such technology, as asserted in the book Small is Beautiful [1] by E. F. Schumacher, 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 excessive mechanization, human displacement, resource depletion or increased pollution associated with unchecked industrialisation. The term has often, though not always, been applied to the predicaments 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. However, this is not the usual meaning of the term, and is not the meaning intended in this article.
Contents
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 less inaccessible, than those tools that would be used in a developed nation. Often, in a developing nation, this is a first step among "appropriate" criteria. As well, it is usually "appropriate" to use only technologies that can at least be locally repaired.
Different usages, controversies
One approach to the term, among advocates of voluntary simplicity (sometimes termed neo-luddites by others), is that "appropriate technology" is technology whose risk/cost/value tradeoff is compelling enough to justify continued use. Examples might include a clothesline, small kitchen gardens, home composting, better thermal insulation, or commuting by bicycle rather than automobile.
Many advocates who use the term "appropriate technology" imply changes that extend even to the "highest" technologies when those technologies are, in fact, the technologies best fitted to their applications. Use of radio broadcasts, cellular telephones or distance education might be considered appropriate "high technologies."
Another commonly encountered approach to the term "appropriate technology" is when it is used to describe specific technologies, like wind power, that provide an alternative to fossil fuels. Also, the term is sometimes used to describe things like the telephone, radio and television that can reduce the need for travel or replace print. Such usage is controversial, as, very often, windmills or electronics may rely on very high technology elsewhere, in their production.
Which technologies are truly "appropriate" was a matter of debate among those who pioneered the concept, and is still a matter of some debate. Further, the use of technologies that are appropriate is an issue for both industry and consumers. For instance, in recent years some consumers have heard the criticism that SUVs are not appropriate to transport one person from A to B on flat terrain and without transporting goods. The other extreme is the use of Alternative propulsion, which may involve investing more in the means (say, a car or motorcycle) than the average citizen can afford.
Sometimes, appropriate technology is a synonym of creating technology within GFDL (GNU Free Documentation License) and public domain, in collaborative environments (it can use a wiki or similar). In this sense, appropriate technology is not appropriative (proprietary) technology.
Intermediate technology
"Intermediate technology" can be a synonym for appropriate technology. It was used 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 can be easily purchased and used by poor people, and which can lead to greater productivity while minimizing social dislocation. Much intermediate technology can also be built and serviced using locally available materials and knowledge. For instance, if a typical workplace costs $1 to equip with primitive tools, but a competitive modern industrial approach would require a workplace costing $1000, then the 'intermediate technologies' are those that cost $10-$100 per workplace. The term was popularized by E. F. Schumacher and his colleagues who were working on early human development theory in the 1960s. It was explained in depth in his book Small is Beautiful, which offered a sharp critique of then-prevalent approaches to development aid.
Characteristics of these technologies
Low cost and low maintenance requirements are of prime importance. More frequent maintenance can be considered appropriate, if the maintenance can be done with locally available skills, tools, and materials. It is usually "appropriate" to use only technologies that can at least be locally repaired.
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. It may use very recent technology - for example, a type of white LED lights is used by the Light Up the World Foundation in remote areas of Nepal, due to their low power requirements and high reliability.
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
Information and communication technology
The 2B1 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] is a project which uses 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 the Grameen Bank's telephone network, working in conjunction with its microfinance program, which 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 Aidworld[2] 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.
Food preparation
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.
Health care
A phase-change incubator, developed in the late 1990s, 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. The principle of Village Level Operation and Maintenance is important with handpumps, but may be difficult in application.
Water treatment
Water may need purification before use, depending on the source and the intended use (with high standards required for drinking water). Groundwater may be clean enough, depending on depth and distance from sources of contamination such as latrines; rainwater may also be clean, especially if the early part of the rainfall is diverted to waste. However, it is often recommended to treat the water, to remove any doubt as to its safety.[citation needed]
The main processes are filtration, biofilm, sedimentation, heat, ultraviolet light, and chemical disinfection (using bleach - see water purification).
Slow sand filters are suitable for community or municipal level water treatment, and provide a very high quality output of water with relatively simple operation, and are used in wealthy nations as well as poor communities. Its downsides are the large area used and occasional downtime after maintenance; however, both of these can be reduced by changing the system of maintenance, and ploughing rather than scraping the surface. See article for details.
The crushed seeds of Moringa oleifera or Strychnos potatorum can be used as flocculants, allowing the impurities to be more easily removed by sedimentation or filtration.
A type of ceramic water filter was recently developed which can be made with clay, mixed with organic matter such as coffee grounds without a kiln, and fired using an open dung fire.
The LifeStraw is a small manufactured device which allows the user to drink straight from unclean water.
Cloth filters and solar water disinfection are suitable for use on a small scale, using jars or bottles, requiring only very few resources.
In some cases multiple methods may be used to produce safe drinking water. For example solar water disinfection requires fairly clear water, so a simple method of filtering, such as a cloth filter, may be used first.
Spring water typically doesn't need treatment, unless it is polluted at the outlet. The quality of water at the outlet may be protected with a spring box.
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 a solution to an urban slum's sanitation crisis. Kamal Kar has documented the remarkably inexpensive latrines developed by Bangladeshi villagers once they became sufficiently aware of the health problems with open defecation.
Reed beds can help to purify sewage and greywater.
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.
Accessibility
The Whirlwind wheelchair provides mobility for disabled people who cannot afford the expensive wheelchairs used in developed countries.
Posted 09/12/07 by
John Powers
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