This page was created by:  Rey Medina & Leah Richter

Advantages

           Appropriate technology has many advantages over current methods used in the United States and other technologically advanced countries around the world. It is an excellent step in the technological process to help those countries that are not as educated or economically well off begin to make some progress toward more modern amenities. Appropriate technology is usually much cheaper for small village applications. The designs are built relatively user friendly making it easier for the uneducated natives to use them. They are tough, built to be able to handle very rough use and conditions. They are built to, hopefully, last for a very long time.

           They are sustainable and environmentally friendly. They use the community’s natural resources to prevent the necessity of importing goods. One example is in Papua New Guinea, they have a very large supply of coconuts that are not useful for anything and are allowed to rot on the ground. A professor of engineering from there decided to try to make diesel fuel using coconut oil. Traditional diesel fuel had to be imported and was very expensive. He was successful at creating fuel and also found ways of using the rest of the coconut for building materials so none of it would be wasted. Another important aspect of appropriate technology is designing the tool or process so that it can be manufactured in the country by the people. Therefore, appropriate Technology is able to help the community economically as well.

Appropriate Technology