engineering for development experiences with appropriate technologies
TRANSCRIPT
Engineering for Development
Engineering for Development
Experiences with Appropriate Technologies
Criticisms of the Simputer:
•$200 is a substantial fraction of the median Indianincome.
•Aimed at middle classes rather than at the neediest.
•What does an illiterate person most need in orderto access information?
Two success stories: the Kenya Jiko and the Solar Lamp
80,000 systems sold in Kenya
(about 1% of the rural population)
No subsidies or grants.
Panels imported, but batterieslocal.
About 60% of systems stillworking.
Sold by Energy AlternativesAfrica, based in Nairobi.
What kind of world do you want?
What drawbacks could result from bringing electricity to a rural village?
What is the downside of increased literacy?
Is putting children in school from 6 to 16 an improvement?
How many Western problems come bundled with Western technology?