Appropriate Technology

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This page is deduced from Wikipedia on Appropriate Technology

Appropriate technology for developing countries, refers to technology which is suitable for use in developing nations or underdeveloped rural areas of industrialized nations, which may lack the money and specialised expertise to operate high technology. In practice, it is often something that might be described as using the simplest and most benign level of technology that can effectively achieve an intended purpose.

Definition

It is often referred to simply as Appropriate technology. However, that term can also have other meanings. An expensive technology may be the most appropriate in a wealthy community with the ability to pay for and maintain it.

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.

To be appropriate, technology must be connected to the place, resources, economics, culture and impacts of its use.

Characteristics of these technologies

It's hard to give a full definition of appropriate technology, but they have at least the following two properties in common:

- Low cost, these technologies have to be available for the poorest people too.

- Possibility to be locally repaired, i.e. all materials and knowledge to build and maintain these solutions must be readily available to areas whith sometimes poor connections to centers of commerce.