Short talk given on tying up hackspaces and appropriate technology projects.

1. Makers, Hackspaces and
Appropriate Technology
Matt Little
matt@re-innovation.co.uk
www.re-innovation.co.uk

2. Appropriate Technology
 E F Schumacher – Wrote “Small is beautiful”
 'Appropriate size for everything'
 General idea:
 “encompassing technological choice and
application that is small scale, labour intensive,
energy efficient, environmentally sound and locally
controlled”
 People centred

3. Why is it relevant?
 1 in 4 without access to electricity
 1 in 6 never touched a phone
 1 in 3 has access to a computer
 75% energy used in 'developed' countries
 1 in 5 does not have access to safe drinking
water
 1 in 3 does not have access to adequate
sanitation

4. Why is it relevant?

5. Benefits of access to energy
 Reduced hours spent doing labour intensive tasks
 Improved lighting
 Extended working hours can be economically beneficial
 Less indoor air pollution
 Improved communications
 Improved healthcare
 Improved education
 Reduced time spent on labour intensive tasks
 Access to information
 etc etc

7. Issues
 Reasons why not all technology is
appropriate
 Social
 Political
 Western influence
 Not economic markets
 ….discuss

8. Ideas
 Simple
 Robust
 Local supply and repair
 Local knowledge
 Local skills
 Maintenance
 Modular

9. Examples
 Pedal power:
 In Nepal
www.ecosystemsnepal.com
 In Guatemala
http://www.mayapedal.org/

10. Examples
 Fab Labs:
 Kenya - http://www.fablab.co.ke/
 India - http://www.vigyanashram.com/
 South Africa –
http://web.media.mit.edu/~neilg/neil/06.02.Sosh/


11. Examples
 blueEnergy
 http://www.blueenergygroup.org/?lang=en
 Practical Action
 http://practicalaction.org/

12. How to join makers and AT?
Most folk in remote locations are already
makers and inventors.
 To help with that:
 Introduce production facilities locally
 Place to discuss ideas with high access to
information
 Connect problems to makers
 Design, build and test ideas
 Access to fund and technology

13. How to join makers and AT
 Practical Action
 Geek club
 http://practicalaction.org/geekclub-1
 Wikipedia
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Sustainable_devel
opment
 Engineers Without Borders
 “Small is....” Festival
 http://www.ewb-uk.org/smallis2011

14. Nottingham hackspace
 Proposed Appropriate Technology group
 Meet fortnightly to discuss and work on these
ideas and projects
 Connect with similar groups
 EWB Nottingham branch
 Practical Action Geek Club?

15. Initial project idea
 Micro-hydro power electronic load controller
 Imported unit
 cost/ complexity/ external reliance
 Proposed unit
 modular/ low cost/ local manufacture