IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 22

standardized, the entire mudbrick building system must
adapt to dissimilar climates and soils in different parts
of the world. Localization in high rainfall areas might
involve stabilizing the bricks with a mud-cement mixture, despite the additional cost in terms of press maintenance and design. In this case, the product (press)
might be standardized while the educational regimen
is customized to the specific context. Clearly, there are
many shades of grey within the standardization versus
localization decision for technology ventures, but an
ideal medium is often possible.

or manufactured on the African continent, ecosystems have emerged to support them and accelerate
their adoption. Thousands of cellphone repair technicians, most with little formal education, eke out a
living repairing commonly-used cellphones. The key
question is whether the technology is sustainable in
the long term despite being manufactured elsewhere.

Should Technologies be Designed
for Individual or Community Ownership?
Though the local community can implement, and
benefit from, water reservoirs, schools, bridges and
Should Technologies Rely on Local Materials
similar infrastructure projects, community ownership
and Manufacturing Operations?
of certain technologies is not practical. For example,
Local production comes with many social, economic,
large greenhouses can be used and shared by commuand environmental trade-offs for appropriate technolnities by allowing individuals some level of access.
ogy ventures. How important are profit, people, and
This allows users to pool resources and afford expenplanet to each AT venture? profitable ventures are
sive technologies while enhancing the value derived
more likely to scale and deliver their technologies
from them. However, the exact nature of that shared
to more people. However, if such a venture employs
ownership can be difficult to negotiate and control.
destructive manufacturing practices,
How is space within the greenhouse allois the benefit of reaching more people
cated? Who can receive the crops grown
worth the collateral cost? Local manuwithin it? How will maintenance and
Often,
facturing for local markets with locallyrepair requirements be handled? How
external
available raw materials can lead to
are theft and destruction prevented? Who
technologies
resilient businesses that can quickly
ensures that rules are followed? To achieve
will challenge
respond to the evolving needs of comequitable group ownership, the commumunities. At the same time, other social
local traditions nity must build on trusted relationships to
ventures insist that using local manufacand champion clearly define and regulate the operational
turing and resources compromises their
model that serves the needs of the diverse
a Western
business models and cost effectiveness.
stakeholders.
perspective.
For example, KickStart treadle pumps
This need for trust is evident in the busiand irrigation systems are manufacness model of Husk power Systems (HpS),
tured in China due to cost restrictions
a rural electrification company in India. The
[16]. Similarly, biomedical ventures like ClickMedix
company uses renewable energy sources to produce
face cost and quality control barriers when trying
and supply electricity on a per diem basis at a low cost.
to manufacture locally [17]. Despite the additional
User accountability is sourced through community
transportation and logistics fees, outsourcing is somemonitoring: people's homes are open and everyone can
times necessary to maintain economic sustainability.
see what appliances are being run. Neighbors are billed
In situations like these, the venture must accept that
together, so everyone watches one another to ensure
all development goals cannot be achieved simultanethey are each paying for what they use [2].
ously. Foreign manufacturing usually means fewer
In short, there are many issues to consider when
jobs and relatively less economic empowerment for
deciding what level of community involvement a venlocal residents. It may also lead to negative environture should pursue. More expensive technologies may
mental outcomes due to industrial manufacturing and
require the pooled resources of multiple households.
international shipping. On the other hand, developers
Highly location-dependent ventures, such as inframay be able to make foreign production "greener"
structure projects and healthcare services, might benethan local alternatives, for instance, by utilizing more
fit from a participatory approach that directly involves
expansive material options, recycling facilities, and
the community in venture development. Tight-knit,
energy infrastructure.
open-home communities accustomed to central manWhat happens when imported products malfuncagement or cooperatives will likely be a better fit
tion? Are tools, replacement parts, and skills available
for community ownership than a more individualist
to easily repair the product? Lack of technicians to
culture with single-family homes and self-contained
maintain and repair expensive biomedical equipment
technologies. At the same time, some of the most sucaggravates healthcare challenges in Africa [18]. On
cessful technologies like cellphones, solar lanterns,
the other hand, although cellphones are not designed
and radios are designed for individual or family use.
22

|

IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

|

SprING 2014



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014

IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - Cover1
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - Cover2
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 1
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 2
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 3
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 4
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 5
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 6
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 7
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 8
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 9
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 10
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 11
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 12
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 13
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 14
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 15
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 16
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 17
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 18
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 19
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 20
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 21
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 22
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 23
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 24
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 25
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 26
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 27
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 28
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 29
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 30
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 31
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 32
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 33
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 34
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 35
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 36
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 37
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 38
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 39
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 40
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 41
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 42
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 43
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 44
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 45
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 46
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 47
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 48
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 49
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 50
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 51
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 52
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 53
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 54
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 55
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 56
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 57
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 58
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 59
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 60
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 61
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 62
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 63
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 64
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 65
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 66
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 67
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 68
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 69
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 70
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 71
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 72
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 73
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 74
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 75
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 76
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 77
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 78
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 79
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - 80
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - Cover3
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Spring 2014 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2013
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com