Appropriate Technology
The Human-Faced Technology
Beginning of Appropriate Technology
The concept of appropriate technology began from the term “intermediate technology” by an economist in the 1960s, E. F. Schumacher (1911-1977). Concerned about the economic polarization between developed countries and the Third World, Schumacher insisted the necessity of medium-sized technologies for the right path of development, inspired by the Swadeshi (self-sufficiency) movement by Mahatma Gandhi and Buddhist philosophy.
Intermediate technology refers to technologies that are much more advanced than primitive technologies of the past but very simple compared to “super technology" of developed countries. Unlike the super technology which enables mass production based on large-scale capital, intermediate technology aims small-sized production performed by local communities using local ingredients, little capital, and relatively simple technologies. Intermediate technology, therefore, is the “human-faced” technology: It costs much cheaper, has fewer restrictions, and can help people feel the joy and the worth of life by working through it without being alienated. Schumacher believed that development of intermediate technology can resolve several issues derived from the self-destructive super technologies as well as poverty in the Third World. Intermediate technology movement began, and became vigorous as the Schumacher's book titled Small is Beautiful (1973) was widely read. During that time, activists of the movement preferred the term “appropriate technology” to intermediate technology because they considered the word “intermediate” to be understood as incomplete or inferior to high technology. Since then, appropriate technology has been used more rather than intermediate technology.
Technology for Assistance to the Third World
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, attention on appropriate technologies for assistance to the Third World increased gradually. Scientific technology gained importance as the driver of economic growth since the United States and the Soviet Union began competing in technology development, and Japan and Germany achieved economic recovery through industrialization with new technologies. It was strongly claimed that utilization of scientific technologies would be especially effective in ODA (Official Development Assistance) for the Third World. Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG, now Practical Action) founded by Schumacher in 1966 focused on developing technologies which can reduce the poverty in the Third World and help their economic independence. In 1970, researchers at the University of Sussex in UK declared Sussex Manifesto which claimed that developed countries should increase aid using scientific technologies to developing countries.
The effort to develop technologies appropriate for poor communities like the Third World countries has been continued in order to achieve their economic and social development. The definition of “appropriate technology” and its evaluation varies in the US and European societies where AT movement had ups and downs. According to histories, perspectives, and activities of each country and organization, the function and expected effectiveness of appropriate technology and its position in aid activities can be different. However, the philosophy of early AT movement seems to be continued today in terms of the fact that various formal and informal organizations, research institutes, and universities are still working on developing technologies that can substantially help the Third World. In 2000s, the issue of enhancing effectiveness of assistance to the Third World and the capability of recipient countries has emerged, and therefore the effort to develop appropriate technologies that are “appropriate” to the Third World will gain its momentum.
Appropriate Technology as Alternative Technology
Although the AT movement was started in order to solve the poverty in the Third World, it is alternative technology sector that the philosophy of appropriate technology is most successfully connected to the problems of modern society such as environmental issues. At the end of 1960s, some organizations started developing appropriate technologies as alternative technologies that are applicable in developed countries as well as the Third World. New Alchemy Institute (now The Green Center) and Farallones Institute were established in 1969, and they performed research to develop alternative technologies related to water, energy, and architecture based on ecological aspects. Relevant institutions and departments were founded at government level as well. The Carter administration was struggling to prepare the energy conservation plan; therefore it established National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) in 1976, and once installed PV panel at White House. Alternative technology movement had many difficulties according to political and social atmosphere by time and region.
However, critical minds about environmental crisis are generally increasing, and the efforts to develop technologies which do not destroy the ecosystem and waste natural resources have been expanded. As the concept of “sustainable development” was made and spread since the late 1970s, it became an important issue throughout the world to achieve environmentally and socially sustainable development along with the balance between development and conservation. This issue was also covered by the principles of MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) announced by UN in 2000.
Crisis of Appropriate Technology Movement
Until 1970s, appropriate technology was recognized as a desirable technology that is adequate for the Third World and does not have side effect which derived from super technologies of developed countries. However, AT movement once declined in the late 1980s. First of all, the criticism that appropriate technology does not work well with dealing economic and social problems such as the poverty in the Third World which were caused by economic structure of that time. As the cases of rapid economic development based on large-scale industrial facilities in South Korea and Taiwan turned out, people began to recognize the philosophy of appropriate technology which pursued a small economy as an ideal and romantic dream rather than the realistic alternative to reduce the poverty in the Third World. Moreover, as oil price drop weakened Schumacher’s argument that pointed out the vulnerability of economic structure of that time, interest in appropriate technology thus decreased. In the confrontation mood between the United States and the Soviet Union, large-scale projects were continuously adopted and implemented, and that led AT movement to the decline as well.
Design Revolution for the Other 90 Percent
After AT movement experienced a failure, new perspectives on appropriate technology and the way of application emerged. The biggest change was that market-oriented perspective gained strength, and criticism on humanitarian access in the early AT movement rose. Paul Polak who wrote book titled Out of Poverty (2008) and established International Development Enterprises (IDE) is famous for his role in leading this perspective switch. He pointed out that “the way of donation” led AT movement to failure, and appropriate technology can succeed when it is developed by a cold-hearted entrepreneur rather than an unskilled bustler with good intentions.
The goal of his movement is to realize the affordable design for the poorest 90 percent by regarding them who were excluded in the design process not as the object of charity but as customers, and by learning how much they can pay for their needs. Polak’s movement which tried to design small-sized affordable technologies to attract the poor who takes about 90 percent of the world’s population can be called as “Design Revolution” because it is against the design of traditional products which mainly targeted at the richest 10 percent. AT movement was encouraged once again by Design for the Other 90 Percent Exhibition which was held in New York in 2007.
Appropriate Technology Activities of Today
A number of researches and aid programs for the Third World are now being conducted by numerous organizations: Technical aid institutions in developed countries such as Practical Action (former ITDG, UK), GIZ (Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Germany), and SNV (Stichting Nederlandse Vrijwilligers, Netherlands); Social enterprises such as IDE (International Development Enterprises) and KickStart (former ApproTEC); Regular programs in engineering colleges such as D-lab at MIT; and many other NGOs. There are many public institutions relevant to alternative technology in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, etc. Social enterprises in developing countries such as Grameen Shakti in Bangladesh, Sunlabob in Laos and SELCO in India are running Appropriate Technology development projects as well.
In recent years, interest in appropriate technology has increased even in Korean society, and so has the number of relevant activities as it is called “Appropriate Technology Boom.” In private sector, various size of appropriate technology development programs were started by a group of researchers from Sharing & Technology Inc. (STI), Scientists and Engineers Without Boarders (SEWB), etc.; NGOs such as Good Neighbors, Team & Team International, Alternative Technology Center, etc.; and Training programs and institutions in universities such as Appropriate Technology Research Center at Hanbat National University, Green Appropriate Technology Research Institution at Handong University, etc. As Korea became the 24th member nation in the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 2009, support from the Korean government is growing gradually, which seems to have a positive effect on AT movement.
The Human-Faced Technology
Appropriate technology is an ecological technology to consume minimum resources in the process of production and utilization, a key to address the technical and economic gap between the Third World and developed countries through the most desirable methods, and a technology of which ultimate purpose is focused on human development. After all, appropriate technology does not mean a group of specific technologies, but opportunities to evaluate and check the relationship people and technology. Technology is getting more and more human through appropriate technology activities conducted in various ways with various goals.
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Reference: Sharing Technologies Inc., [Scientific Technology of 36.5 degrees: Appropriate Technology], Herone Media, 2011; Hazeltine B. and Bull, C., [Field Guide to Appropriate Technology], Academic Press, 2003; Pursell, C. (1993), [The Rise and Fall of the AT movement in the United States, 1965-1985], Technology and Culture, Vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 629-637.
Written by JANG Ha-Won, the doctor’s course (in Science, Technology and Society Studies, STS) at Seoul National University
Original Post : NAVER CAST (적정기술 : 인간의 얼굴을 한 기술) / 12.04.09.Translated by Cambodia Appropriate Technology Center in KOTRA Phnom Penh / 13.05.01.
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