The document discusses appropriate technology for developing countries. It defines technology and appropriate technology, and lists some current problems in developing countries. It also discusses priority areas for engineering technology, including community-based education. Community-based education uses the community as a learning environment, exposes students to real-life problems, and helps them develop practical skills to solve issues. The document also categorizes countries based on development and analyzes characteristics of developing countries.

1. Appropriate
Technology
(TCBTP 2001)
Introduction to
Appropriate Technology
Appropriate Technology
1

2. Learning Objectives:Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lecture the students
will be able to:
Define and Describe about technology
Define and Describe about appropriate
technology
List Current problems of developing
counties
List and describe about priority areas
in engineering technology in LDC
Appropriate Technology 2

3. 1. Community Based Education, CBE1. Community Based Education, CBE
● Community Based Education
innovative /new educational
curriculum
the community is extensively used as
a learning environment.
It is need based and problem
solving in nature
education is made relevant to social
development.
Appropriate Technology 3

4. Cont…Cont…
As a learning philosophy CBE uses community as a
learning environment, the students and instructors
of the institution are offered a unique opportunity
to understand the technological, social, economic
environment for better interaction
to correlate theoretical knowledge with practice
asses the needs of the community and develop
problem solving ability
to acquire life long interest to issues of societal
development
Appropriate Technology 4

5. Why community based education isWhy community based education is
needed ?needed ?
There is a high demand to change theoretical
knowledge to practice
expose students to the real life
gives students a sense of responsibility and
accountability
makes students active learners than passive
knowledge receivers
it equips/helps students with practical skill to
solve problems
Appropriate Technology 5

6. Cont…Cont…
What are the strategies of CBE
Community Based Training Program, CBTP
Team Training Program, TTP
Student Research Program, SRP
DTTP (Developmental Team Training Program)
for graduate program
Appropriate Technology 6

7. Cont…Cont…
Development
◦ Development is a process of social, economic and
political change and growth where people’s needs
for land, food, shelter, education, health care,
energy supplies and improved techniques are
systematically being satisfied.
Countries are conventionally classified as developed
or as under developed (or developing).
Assumption here is that development means growth
in material well being as measured by the average
annual income of the people of a country. i.e., its
Gross National Product (GNP) divided by the
population.
Appropriate Technology 7

8. Cont…Cont…
According to their per capital income countries
can be classified in to the following four
categories
1. More Developed Countries (MDCS)
Countries with a per capita income of roughly $ 8000 or
more.
These countries are highly industrialized
Includes USA, Japan, UK, Russia, Germany
2. Newly Industrializing countries
Countries with per capita income roughly on the range of
$ 2000 to $ 7000 per annum.
These countries are developing technology and
disseminating education & industrialization in all fields.
Include Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea
Appropriate Technology 8

9. Cont…Cont…
3. Less developed countries (LDCS)
Countries with per capita income is less than about $
750 per annum.
Most of them have no well established advanced
technology
Includes Ethiopia, Indonesia, Burma, most of Africa
4. Mineral - rich countries
Countries with per capita income generally in the
range of $ 6000 to $ 22000
Their wealth entirely depend on the of a single
valuable mineral.
Include oil states of Middle East, Sabah and
Nauru in the pacific ocean (phosphate) producer.Appropriate Technology 9

10. Characteristics of Developing CountriesCharacteristics of Developing Countries
Very low average income per capita
Predominantly agricultural economies
Wide Spread Unemployment & Under
employment
Lack of technical, managerial & other
skills
Lack of capital especially hard currency
for national development
High population growth
Appropriate Technology 10

11. Cont…Cont…
Very slow & even zero rate of economic
growth
Malnutrition, disease and low life
expectancies
Lack of basic poor public infrastructures of
transport, education, health etc
A drift or migration of people from rural
area to cities gross congestion in the
latter
Appropriate Technology 11

12. Factors affecting developmentFactors affecting development
1. The level of technology and
technological change & improvement
2. The level & quality of capital
investment
3. The supply of labor especially skilled
labor
4. Managerial skills and entrepreneurial
initiatives
5. The availability of raw materials
Appropriate Technology 12

13. Cont…Cont…
6. Culture and psychological attitudes
including the initiative to work
7. Population change
8. The social, economic and political
systems operating in the country
9. The extent & nature of out side help
10.The terms of world trade and
international economic situation
Appropriate Technology 13

14. Attitudes to workAttitudes to work
Attitudes to work vary widely: there are two
extremes
 In most western societies
◦ Work is a desirable end in itself.
 In other societies
◦ “One works only in order to live”
The kind of work ethics has a direct bearing on the
kinds of technologies that are appropriate to
developing countries
To assume a certain work ethics is applicable &
acceptable in all societies is questionable and
immoral.
Appropriate Technology 14

15. Technology: Definition and DescriptionTechnology: Definition and Description
Technology is a combination of knowledge,
techniques and concepts; it is tools, devices,
machines and factories.
It is engineering, but it is more than engineering. It
involves organization and processes.
It has to do with agriculture, housing, health,
construction and energy. It is often highly resource
specific.
It involves people, both as individuals - creators,
inventers, and entrepreneurs - and as society.
The cultural, historical and organizational context in
which technology is developed and applied is always
a factor in its success or failure. Appropriate Technology 15

16. Cont…Cont…
 Technology is a science and the art of getting things done
through the application of knowledge.
 According to the American technology historian Edwin Layton,
‘Technology is a spectrum, with ideas at one end and
techniques and things at the other, with design as a
middle term.’
 It is closely connected with the story of man’s long and painful
efforts to control his material environment for his own benefit.
 Until the early 18th
century progress in technology was largely
achieved by trail & error, and was slow.
 In the last two hundred years the deliberate application of
scientific knowledge has given man more & more powerful
tools and techniques for the enhancement of material living
standards
Appropriate Technology 16

17. Cont…Cont…
 Technology
applied science, a technical means of achieving a practical
purpose
the use of tools, materials and processes to solve a
problem or fill a need and improve the human condition
human innovation in action
 Technology has improved the human condition in many ways-
longer life span,
higher standard of living, and
increased mobility and communication.
 New technology tends to be accepted as progress as a key
to society’s problems and a better future,
 The impact of technology is not neutral.
Appropriate Technology 17

18. Cont…Cont…
Many technologies are devices or tools for lightening
manual labor.
◦ The Plough, wheel and windmill are traditional examples; the
pocket calculator and industrial robot are modern ones.
Others technologies are techniques for converting
naturally occurring materials in to new, more useful
forms iron in steel, clay in to bricks etc.
Technology provides products and services to meet
the potential human needs.
It provides techniques and tools for improving the
production of known items and methodology and
means for producing new one Appropriate Technology 18

19. Cont…Cont…
 The development of a nation therefore, depends on the
country’s capability to continuously improve and upgrade the
indigenous technologies and to facilitate the availability of
technology to its population.
 The more people work for the innovation, upgrading and
development of technologies, the more they hasten the
improvement of the well being of their community.
 As the availability of technologies in a society increases the
standard of living of the population improves.
 Even within the developing countries this can be easily
illustrated by looking into the difference between the standard
of living in towns and cities and that of rural villages.
 This gap is created greatly due to the accesses and
opportunities to acquire and utilize the technologies
Appropriate Technology 19

20. Cont…Cont…
One cannot expect to improve the well being of a
society without improving the access to technology
utilization and developments.
The more persons or communities in the country
have access to technology, the more is the
opportunity for development and better standard of
living.
 Access to technology can be generated through
three ways:
development of own
acquiring from others
blending of both the above
Appropriate Technology 20

21. Categories of TechnologiesCategories of Technologies
There are three categories of Technologies
(1) Private/Family
E.g. Personal Consumable, Watches, Corrugated iron
roofs, sewing machine, radio receivers
(2) Community
E.g. Water supply, Micro hydropower scheme,
primary & secondary education, local road.
(3) Public
E.g. Railway, Electric grid, major rods Higher
education, banks, steel mills.
Appropriate Technology 21

22. ObsolescenceObsolescence
Technological development is continually creating
obsolescence.
There are two types of obsolescence.
1 Process Obsolescence
Occur when the ways in which certain things are
made or a particular services are carried out become
obsolete (replaced by something newer).
2 Product Obsolescence.
Occur when the things and services themselves may
become obsolete & replaced by others.

Appropriate Technology 22

23. Cont…Cont…
 The main causes of Obsolescence are
1. Economic
 Changes in the relative prices of resources used in
production
 Changes in the living standard
2. Technical
 Development of technologies in use
3. Social
 Changes in living practices of the people linked with
changes in living standard or with changing attitudes to
work & leisure
In practice the causes of Obsolescence are
mixed. Appropriate Technology 23

24. Technology: Problems and SolutionsTechnology: Problems and Solutions
 The centuries long use of primitive tools, unchanging and
un-improving production and construction materials and
techniques has led to either deterioration of, or stagnant
living and working conditions of peoples of the so called
developing countries.
 It has also led to the ruin of natural resources, which
cannot be replaced easily.
 Some primitive technologies are still in use with no little
improvement.
 We have reached a new era where the use of primitive
and inefficient agricultural implements, production and
construction tools and techniques seems can no longer be
able to feed and shelter the ever increasing population.Appropriate Technology 24

25. Cont…Cont…
In general, the underdevelopment and low standard
of living created due to the century’s long use of
primitive, inefficient, and wasteful technologies with
no improvement and unavailability of alternative and
productive technologies to be used by the masses
calls:
for innovation of new production and construction
tools and techniques;
to continuously improve and upgrade the
technological level of traditional and indigenous
technologies;
to improve the accesses to alternative
technologies Appropriate Technology 25

26. Cont…Cont…
 Technologies developed in MDC’S are often in-appropriate
for adoption in a particular LDC’S for a variety of reasons
which arises from the ways in which LDCS & MDCS differ
in relation to the use of technology.
 The reasons are as follows
There is climatic difference
Income levels are very low in most developing
countries
The organization of production is in smaller scale in
LDC’S
The skills of workers in LDC’S are seldom those which
are needed to operate western technologies
Differing patterns of demand
The difference in social and cultural systemsAppropriate Technology 26

27. Cont…Cont…
The following are some of the bad effects of that
follow from the adoption in LDC’S of inappropriate
advanced technologies from MDC’S
1.There is heavy reliance on foreign sources of
 skilled personnel’s,
Components
Servicing
Materials
Trouble-shooting
Research & development work
Design
Associated tech. & markets
Appropriate Technology 27

28. Cont…Cont…
2. The educational system is distorted to meet the
requirements of employment
3. The promise of high wages encourage a drift from
rural areas to cities, exacerbating the problems of
overcrowding, disease & unemployment in urban
areas
4. Advanced technology may still be inefficient
compared with its performance in the MDC’S
because it is unsuited to local conditions.
5. Agriculture suffers from inadequate investment as a
result LDC’S have to import food stuffs, and
essential protein food, tend to be expensiveAppropriate Technology 28

29. EngineeringEngineering
 Engineering is a term applied to the profession in which
knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences,
gained by study experience, and practice, is applied to
the efficient use of the materials and forces of nature.
 Engineering is a vital link between science and business
and science and society.
 The skills of engineers are essential to the successes of
efforts to use science to promote technological, social and
economic well being.
 In countries like ours, roles of engineers in technological,
social and economic development are crucial, as virtually
all facets of national development and good quality life
require engineering input. Appropriate Technology 29

30. Cont…Cont…
Engineering is central to understanding of both the
challenges and the solutions facing the world.
To respond, engineers require understanding the
problems facing the society and build up on the
existing resources and know-how.
Pro-poor engineering requires the ability to see the
world from poor people’s perspective, to work along
side poor communities and understand what
engineering solutions are appropriate to their needs
and livelihoods.
Appropriate Technology 30

31. Appropriate Technology, AT : Definitions andAppropriate Technology, AT : Definitions and
DescriptionDescription
 The terms AT, Intermediate Technology, Community Technology
and Village Technology are treated as comparable and can be
used interchangeably.
 German Appropriate Technology Exchange (GATE) defined
appropriate technologies as those, which are suitable in the
light of economic, social and cultural criteria.
 Appropriate Technology or Village Technology is a small - scale
technology aimed primarily at meeting the basic needs of the
rural and urban poor in the developing countries (UNICEF)
 Appropriate Technology, AT or soft Technology is a technology
which is likely to have beneficial effects on income distribution,
employment, work satisfaction, health and social relations(AT
News).
Appropriate Technology 31

32. Cont…Cont…
Depending on the case at hand a traditional,
intermediate or highly developed can be the
appropriate one.
 AT has been in use since ancient time and still it is
applied throughout the world.
At present it is reviving again and getting more
popularity mainly due to its advantage of mobilizing
local resources.
 Appropriate technology with no doubt will provide
the tools for developing countries to exploit their
own resources, particularly where nature or size of
the resources makes conventional methods
unsuitable. Appropriate Technology 32

33. Cont…Cont…
If appropriate technologies are once adopted and
disseminated will
encourage self reliance,
encourage skill development,
encourage respect for traditional technologies and
further generates income for the craftsmen and for
those engaged in making it in particular and those
who bought and used it in general.
Its purpose surely is to make workers (users) more
productive, so that they can achieve a better
standard of living while still sustaining their
traditional way of life. Appropriate Technology 33

34. Criteria for a technology to beCriteria for a technology to be
appropriateappropriate
For a technology to be appropriate for a
particular situation, it should fulfill the
following criteria.
Meet the technical requirements of the
situation
Meet the social requirements of the
situation
Meet the economic requirements of
the situation
Appropriate Technology 34

35. Technical RequirementTechnical Requirement
Using local material & power sources
Make use of and build on locally understood
technologies
Using techniques already proven locally or elsewhere
Product produced is:
 Acceptable
 Adequate for market
 Reliable in operation
 Low in maintenance cost
 Simple to repair
 Meet local climate & geographic requirement
Appropriate Technology 35

36. Social requirementSocial requirement
Involve local people
Use existing or easily developed skills
Create job opportunity
Offer on a continuing basis, greater or expanding job
prospects
Minimizing the need for movement of labor
Encouraging regional & rural development
Doing little damage to the physical environment as
possible
 Avoiding disturbance to or violation of local custom,
traditions & beliefs.
Appropriate Technology 36

37. Economic requirementEconomic requirement
Minimizing in particular the need for investment
requiring hard currency
Yielding a product competitive in price with that
resulting from an alternative choice of technology
Integrating the producers more to the national
monetary system.
Ensuring that the use of the investment is compatible
with local, regional and national development plans
Ensuring that the main economic beneficiaries are the
local people
Appropriate Technology 37

38. Aims of ATAims of AT
The provision of employment and creation of
work places where the people live.
The provision of goods for local market.
The substitution of local goods for the
previously imported ones.
The use of local resources i.e., labors,
materials etc.
The provision of community service including
health, water, sanitation, housing, roads and
education. Appropriate Technology 38

39. Sources of ideas and information on ATSources of ideas and information on AT
Traditional and indigenous technologies and practices
either modified and improved or transplanted to new
areas.
Old technologies & techniques revived (Victorian
Engineering).
Modern industrial processes modified and reduced in
scale.
New ideas appropriate but exploiting advanced
material and technique.
The “Do it yourself” industry.
Introducing from other countries who possess them.
Appropriate Technology 39

40. Areas of Application of ATAreas of Application of AT
In all aspects of development, technical problems
need technical solutions that are simple and
especially in developing countries.
AT has been understood to cover the provision of
solutions to all basic human needs. In particular it
includes:
1. Foods, Agriculture, and Engineering,
2. Water and health,
3. Energy, and construction
4. Building, Medical, roads and other services,
5. Small industry ,
6. Education and development.
Appropriate Technology 40

41. Categories of ATCategories of AT
There are two categories of AT
Family-employing technologies
Community defined technology
Family-employing technologies are consistent
with societies, even if they lack communities.
Community defined technology presume the
existence and preservation of community
Appropriate Technology 41

42. Family-employing technologiesFamily-employing technologies
 Family employing technologies are those that encourage a
family, and family friends, to employ themselves in the
production of goods and services needed by the majority of the
poor people.
 These satisfy at least three criteria.
improve the productivity of labor without replacing it;
Controlled by people who uses it; and
labor-intensive or capital saving and encourages self-
reliance and innovation.
 They have to be relatively cheap technologies, easy to operate
and maintain, so that the majority of the people can obtain and
use them.
 Also, these must use local resources in terms of input and
energy. Appropriate Technology 42

43. Community defined technologyCommunity defined technology
 Community defined technology is one that is ideal for
production at the community level. It presupposes the existence of
the community and its preservation as a development objective.
 A community is defined by at least two conditions:
people living together in a geographical area there by sharing
the pleasures and problems of the same natural phenomena;
and
genuine human interaction between people in the area on a day
to day basis so that people not only know each other but share
each others grief, sorrows, joys, and rejoicings.
 We envisage genuine community as one of the social and
economic institution helpful for the success of AT in achieving
alternative development objectives.
 Community defined technologies are defined, operated and
controlled by community; they enhance the productivity of family-
employing technologies.
Appropriate Technology 43

44. Current Problems of Developing CountriesCurrent Problems of Developing Countries
 Many development problems in developing countries are rooted
in complex multi-faceted issues, related to scientific & non-
scientific as well as technological & non-technological factors.
 The following are the main problems of developing countries
Shortage of food
Lack of adequate & clean water
Shelter/ housing problem
Lack of sanitary & waste disposal facilities
Lack of adequate, clean, environmentally friendly &
efficient power & energy source.
Lack of adequate transportation infrastructure &
system
Unemployment & under employment
Slow development of agricultural & industrial sectors
Appropriate Technology 44

45. Cont…Cont…
 The solution to the above problems lies on engineering
ingenuity & hence calls for the effort & contribution of
engineers.
 The solution could be achieved with the utilization local
materials & local know how with continuous application of
scientific principles.
 Poverty, disease and environmental degradation hamper
development in many countries and science & technology can
contribute towards addressing these problems.
 Currently developing countries are facing with a multi-faceted
problems. Due to natural and man made factors, their
technological & economic development /growth is still slow
and/ or stagnant. The basic needs of the peoples of these
countries are not fulfilled. They are under a vicious circle of
poverty.
Appropriate Technology 45

46. Cont…Cont…
 Poverty is hunger.
 Poverty is lack of shelter.
 Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor.
 Poverty is lack of energy.
 Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to
read and write.
 Poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water.
 Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom.
 Poverty is a situation from which people want to escape. So
poverty is a call to action – for the poor and the wealthy alike- a
call to change the world so that many more people may have
enough to eat, adequate, shelter, access to education and health,
protection from violence, and a voice in what happens in their
communities.
 Engineering has a unique role to play in the fight against poverty.
Appropriate Technology 46

47. Priority Areas in Engineering Technology inPriority Areas in Engineering Technology in
LDCLDC
The priority areas in Engineering Technology in LDCS
include
Food production and agriculture
Small-scale manufacturing (Industrial
development)
Building & construction
Public Health
Water supply
Water treatment
Sanitation
Energy
Transportation
Appropriate Technology 47

48. Water lifting devices/pumpsWater lifting devices/pumps
Introduction
 Water lifting devices are used to lift water to
height that allows users easy access the water.
 End users must be understand the impact of
technology choice.
 And also the end users should know the
operational and maintenances, costs and long
term structures.
Appropriate Technology 48

49. General factors to be consideredGeneral factors to be considered
Factors that should be considered when
we construct water lifting devices are:
Technical factors
Environmental factors
Institutional factors
Community and managerial factors
Financial factors
Appropriate Technology 49

50. There are d/t types of water liftingThere are d/t types of water lifting
devices.some of them are:devices.some of them are:
1. animal driven pump
2.treadle pump
3.rottary hand pumps
 Rope and bucket
 Bucket pump
 Rope pump
4.Reciprocating hand pumps
 Afridev
 Indian mark
Appropriate Technology 50

51. Treadle pumpTreadle pump
Appropriate Technology 51

52. Cont…Cont…
The pressure treadle pump is a significant
revolution in small scale irrigation in the
developing world offering to the poorest people.
It is an alternative to improve the cultivation of
seasonal vegetables and can generate an
income.
Application
 The pressure pump is widely used for irrigation
purpose.
 to lift the water from shallow well or tube well
from a maximum of 7m.
Appropriate Technology 52

53. Cont…Cont…
Appropriate Technology 53

54. Rope and bucketRope and bucket
Appropriate Technology 54

55. Bucket pumpBucket pump
Appropriate Technology 55

56. Rope pumpRope pump
Appropriate Technology 56

57. Suction plunger hand pumpSuction plunger hand pump
Appropriate Technology 57

58. Direct action hand pumpDirect action hand pump
Appropriate Technology 58

59. Deep well diaphragm pumpDeep well diaphragm pump
Appropriate Technology 59

60. Deep well piston hand pump(DWPHP)_Deep well piston hand pump(DWPHP)_
DWPHP, the piston is placed in a cylinder below
the water level, w/c is usually 15-45m below the
ground.
The plunger lifts water into the rising main ,and
replacement water is drawn into the cylinder
through the foot valve.
On the down stroke the foot valve closes, and
water passes the plunger and is lift on the next
upstroke.
Appropriate Technology 60

61. Deep well piston hand pump(DWPHP)_Deep well piston hand pump(DWPHP)_
Appropriate Technology 61

62. Rope and washer pumpRope and washer pump
Appropriate Technology 62

63. Cont…Cont…
 Rope and washer pump is a simple and
affordable technology that can meet the needs of
small plot farmers facing challenges like
too deep access of the water table.
Exhausting and time consuming task to obtain
water for drinking from deep hand dug well.
 the pump is designed to lift water from a depth
of 40m for drinking water purpose and 18m for
irrigation purpose.
Appropriate Technology 63

64. Application of rope and washerApplication of rope and washer
pump(RWP)pump(RWP)
RWP is operated by using a handle to turn a
wheel supported by a metal frame wrapped
around the wheel is along loop of rope which
descends into the well through a PVC pipe and
connects to a guide at the bottom. washers are
attached to the rope about every 90cm.
As the wheel is turned, the loop is moves in circle
and columns of water trapped b/n the washer and
the PVC cylinder are lifted upwards and out of the
pumps with an outlet.
Appropriate Technology 64

65. Cont…Cont…
Component of RWP are:
Handle
PVC pipe
Outlet
Slob
Rope
Washer
Guide box
Appropriate Technology 65

66. Cont…Cont…
Appropriate Technology 66

67. Cont…Cont…
Appropriate Technology 67

68. Hydraulic ram pumpHydraulic ram pump
Appropriate Technology 68

69. Hydraulic Ram PumpHydraulic Ram Pump
Appropriate Technology 69

70. Reciprocating hand pumpsReciprocating hand pumps
Appropriate Technology 70

71. Reciprocating hand pumpsReciprocating hand pumps
Appropriate Technology 71