Appropriate Technology

Welcome to the Nottingham hackspace Appropriate Technology group. We try to meet once per month to discuss and work on projects relating to appropriate technology and international development. Please come along and get involved. This group has not yet has an initial meeting, but hopefully sometime soon.

What is appropriate technology?

The term 'intermediate technology' was coined by the economist E.F. Schumacher who wrote the book “Small is beautiful - Economics as if people mattered”. He actually wrote that there is an '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 ideas

Why do we do it?

Some numbers that help to put things into perspective:

• 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

Projects we are working on

• Micro hydro electronic load controller

A bit of an overview is here

• Rope and washer pump challenge

A rope washer pump is a very simple and inexpensive way of lift water. Some details on rope washer pumps are here.

• Build your own solar panel

Here are details for people to build their own solar electric panel This is the best design I have seen and has been pioneered and improved by Norman Phipps who runs a course to build them at LILI (Low Impact Living Initiative). He has been building them in groups in Africa. It would be good to get him along to do an afternoon on this.

Useful links

• Practical Action
• Practical Action Geek Club
• Engineers Without Borders UK
• 'Small is...' Festival 2011 2-4th September Rugby
• Build your own solar panel