TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

How Technology Plays A Role In Economic Development And Entrepreneurship?

How Technology Plays A Role In Economic Development And Entrepreneurship?

Introduction

At the most basic level, proponents of appropriate technology attempt to clarify which technologies are appropriate to a given context. What is appropriate is, of course, a highly problematic issue about which it is difficult to form consensus. What is generally characteristic about appropriate technology is an effort to mold technologies to be context sensitive; that is, rather than developing a technology without regard to the cultural and environmental situations in which the technology will be used, an advocate of appropriate technology strives to develop technologies that can be enmeshed into a specific place with due consideration given to the impact on the cultural traditions and ecology of those people and ecosystems where the technology will be implemented. When the term appropriate technology is currently invoked it is often used to refer specifically to technologies in developing countries. Appropriate technology in Western contexts generally refers to alternatives to dominant existing technologies that are seen as inappropriate to cultural ideals and values and/or unsustainable. In this context such appropriate technology is sometimes referred to as alternative or intermediate technology.

Appropriate technology advocates seek to develop technologies that are low energy/energy efficient, small scale, minimal to no pollution output, sensitive to the local ecological, cultural, and economic context, and sustainable. In some instances there is an effort to build appropriate technologies through local and available resources, in some cases using recycled materials. Caution must be taken, however, not to confuse appropriate technology with “low” technology. An often-cited example of this is the acclaimed nongovernmental organization (NGO) Light Up the World Foundation's efforts to introduce white light-emitting diodes (WLED) lighting to poor and remote rural areas. WLEDs offer alternative safe, healthy, and affordable lighting that is based on renewable energy sources. This is a high-tech solution to kerosene or wood-burning lighting which can pose health and safety risks. There is often implicit if not explicit care taken for the impact the technology will have on future generations and their ability to lead a good life.

Discussion and Analysis

Technology is the principal means by which a species alters its environment. Appropriate technology is a term intended to encompass those technologies that accomplish their ends with a minimum of “inappropriate” consequences. Such consequences could include environmental degradation, erosion of social fabric, exploitation, and excessively hierarchical organization of the workforce. Appropriate technology suggests a scale that is complementary to human activities in small decentralized groups, encouraging autonomy even at the expense of sacrificing maximum efficiency.

Technology is the defining aspect of human potential by which we extend our abilities and influence. The 20th century saw an exponential expansion in the realm of technology as we transitioned from the Industrial Revolution to the nuclear and digital ages. Central to this technological expansion has been a drive toward ever-greater size, scale, and scope. Large automobiles and the freeways that allow them to cover maximum ground at dizzying speeds are preferred over ...