Showing papers on "Appropriate technology published in 2004"

Alternative Design Scholarship: Working Toward Appropriate Design

Abstract: Design scholars from diverse fields have attempted to assist marginalized social groups by redirecting design thinking toward their needs. By offering alternatives to dominant design activities, “alternative design” scholarship seeks to understand how unequal power relations are embodied in, and result from, mainstream design practice and products. Alternative design scholars analyze how technologies and other designed artifacts are implicated in larger social problems, such as rampant consumerism, sexism, ecological abuse, lack of user participation and autonomy, and restricted access to built environments, among others. Through these efforts, alternative design scholarship offers designers an opportunity to think about how their work might be directed as wisely and fairly as possible. Efforts to redirect technologies toward the needs of marginalized people have a long and varied history. Dating back to the 1960s and before, technology transfer advocates argued for transferring Western technologies to the third world.1 They hoped to take advantage of the intellectual and financial resources already invested by the West to benefit those who seemed to need technology the most. But it soon became evident that the transferability of technology among contexts is far from straightforward. Limited resource availability (capital, expertise, spare parts, etc.), different perspectives on the nature of the problem/solution, and a lack of familiarity with similar technological systems led to dashed hopes and expensive failures for technology transfers, such as the numerous decentralized power systems fallen into disuse throughout the developing world.2 Technology scholars came to realize that differences between a technology’s developmental context and its use context were significant. In part as a response to failures of technology transfer approaches, “appropriate technologists” argued that context suitability should be central to identifying technologies relevant to poor people of the Third World and other marginalized social groups.3 Developing appropriate technologies required accounting for the needs of others by paying careful attention to the use context of that technology, as well as to local perspectives on the problem to be solved. Attention to contextual particularities became one of the guiding approaches to appropriate technology and, hence, unlike technology transfer scholars, appropriate technology thinking took design as the point of intervention. Through the 1970s, appropriate 1 Werner J. Feld, “The Transfer of Technology to Third World Countries: Political Problems and International Ramifications” in Mathew J. Betz, et al., eds., Appropriate Technology: Choice and Development (Durham, North Carolina: Duke Press Policy Studies, 1984), 49–63. 2 Frances Stewart, Technology and Underdevelopment (Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1977). 3 E. F. Schumacher was early to make this observation in Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered (New York: Harper & Row, 1973). A generation of scholars and practitioners followed.

Institutional Change and Resistance: Teacher Preparatory Faculty and Technology Integration

Abstract: This piece discusses issues of vision, skills and knowledge, and departmental culture as barriers to the integration of technology into teacher education courses. After a review of literature in these three areas, themes found from interviews with innovators at Western Michigan University are presented and discussed. Also included are recommendations for institutions seeking to integrate technology into their teacher preparatory curriculums. "There is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than the creation of a new order or things ..." Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince This article describes a qualitative case study regarding potential barriers to the integration of technology into teacher-preparatory courses, as perceived by teacher-educators at one university. It includes major themes gleaned from interviews with change agents, framed by their visions for appropriate technology usage, their skills and knowledge, and their perceptions of departmental culture. Also included is a brief review of literature in each of these areas, as well as conclusions and recommendations made regarding institutional change and the integration of technology. Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers To Use Technology (PT3) is a U.S. Department of Education grant awarded to over 400 universities. Western Michigan University accepted a grant in 1999. The primary focus of PT3 at WMU is to enable all WMU preservice graduates to proficiently use technology in order to engage students in 21st century collaborative, learner-centered environments (PT3 Grant Objectives, 2000). Thus teacher-preparatory faculty are being asked to model collaborative and learner-centered uses of technology for students, who will then integrate these ideas into their future classrooms. Identified in the first year of the grant was an implementation strategy. In essence, the implementation of the grant is about institutional change. While multi-faceted, one key component of WMU's institutional change strategy will be described in this article; the diffusion of grant objectives and integration of technology standards by faculty instructing teacher-preparatory courses. Specifically, perceptions of barriers to technology integration are addressed. Technology standards that have guided and will continue to guide grant goals and objectives are provided by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). There are six broad areas identified by ISTE as critical to using technology in education: (a) Technology Operations and Concepts; (b) Planning and Designing Learning Environments; (c) Teaching, Learning and the Curriculum; (d) Assessment and Evaluation; (e) Productivity and Professional Practice; and (f) Social, Ethical, Legal, and Human Issues. One diffusion approach has been to encourage College of Education and Arts and Sciences faculty, through discussion, marketing, technological assistance, and professional development opportunities, to address the ISTE standards in their teacher-preparatory courses. These would then reinforce what elementary students learn in a specialized technology course, as well as reach those students seeking to become secondary educators or educators in other specialty areas, such as physical education, music, and art. As this approach to the integration of technology in teaching is central to the institutional change the grant is intended to effect, it was important that grant evaluators understand the perceptions of the major players. One way to assess whether the grant initiatives to date are working, specifically, whether teacher-preparatory faculty are indeed changing, is to assess the roadblocks or barriers, as perceived by the participants themselves, in regards to the integration of technology into their classes or courses. Research methods used to do so are described next. Research Methods Collection of data on faculty perceptions came from many sources. …

Technology Transfer: Strategic Management in Developing Countries

Abstract: Introduction Transferring Technology to Developing Countries Technology Growth Innovation, Change and Development Technology as a Process Concepts, Perspectives and Dimensions Technology Transfer Theoretical Issues and Systematic Modelling Technology Diffusion Assimilation and Capability Improvement Appropriate Technology Reconsidering Targets and Key-Role Factors Technology Planning Identification, Evaluation and Decision Making in a Generic Integrated Model Globalisation and Technology Transfer Post-WTO and a New Perspective Conclusion Indicators for a Successful Technology Transfer Process

Electronic Government and the Rural Poor: The Case of Gyandoot

Abstract: In the poor and drought-prone rural district of Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, India, Gyandoot has tried to make government services more accessible to villagers through information and communications technology (ICT) since January 2000. Two recent surveys of this e-government project allow us to evaluate whether the local population is benefiting. Main findings are that service satisfaction is quite high, but usage is low, and Gyandoot is not reaching the poorest people. We conclude that much of the potential benefits of e-government are not being realized. Lessons for ICT projects that intend to benefit the rural poor include the use of appropriate technology, implementation of the project by agents who have incentives to serve the poor, community participation and ownership, availability of pro-poor services, and campaigns to raise awareness.

Application of ICT in strengthening health information systems in developing countries in the wake of globalisation.

Abstract: Information Communication Technology (ICT) revolution brought opportunities and challenges to developing countries in their efforts to strengthen the Health Management Information Systems (HMIS). In the wake of globalisation, developing countries have no choice but to take advantage of the opportunities and face the challenges. The last decades saw developing countries taking action to strengthen and modernise their HMIS using the existing ICT. Due to poor economic and communication infrastructure, the process has been limited to national and provincial/region levels leaving behind majority of health workers living in remote/rural areas. Even those with access do not get maximum benefit from ICT advancements due to inadequacies in data quality and lack of data utilisation. Therefore, developing countries need to make deliberate efforts to address constraints threatening to increase technology gap between urban minority and rural majority by setting up favourable policies and appropriate strategies. Concurrently, strategies to improve data quality and utilisation should be instituted to ensure that HMIS has positive impact on people's health. Potential strength from private sector and opportunities for sharing experiences among developing countries should be utilised. Short of this, advancement in ICT will continue to marginalise health workers in developing countries especially those living in remote areas.

Building without borders : sustainable construction for the global village

Abstract: Preface Foreword by Judy Knox Introduction Shelter and Sustainable Development Speaking the Vernacular: Mud versus Money in Africa, Asia, and the US Southwest Sustainable Building As Appropriate Technology Down to Earth Technology Transfer Tell, Show, Do: Teacher Training Programs for Tomorrow's Housing Solutions Sustainable Settlements: Rethinking Encampments for Refugees and Displaced Populations A Critical Overview of Sustainable Building Techniques Glossary Index.

Environmental Information Systems as Appropriate Technology

Abstract: Environmental information systems-involving databases, computer modeling, remote sensing, GIS applications, and a host of other technologies-are now being developed around the world to address a range of issues, from climate change to loss of biodiversity, to economic underdevelopment.' The implications for the natural environment, human welfare, and democratic governance are significant. Environmental information systems structure what people see in the environment, and how they collaborate to deal with environmental problems. They shape scientific inquiry, legal argument, and how citizens participate in governance. They are technologies designed to produce new truths, new social relationships, new forms of political decision-making and, ultimately, a renewed environment. I will discuss one particular environmental information system, an interactive Website supported by a relational database that contains profiles of more than 6,800 chemicals. Maintained by the Environmental Defense Fund, and called "Scorecard," the Website integrates local pollution information for the United States with information on health risks, and with information on relevant environmental regulations. It allows users to produce customized reports, and encourages communication with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or with a polluting company. A Canadian version of Scorecard went online in April 2001, and a Japanese version is in the planning stage.2 Scorecard could become a technology that is transferred to countries around the world. My main argument is that Scorecard is an example of an appropriate environmental information system-designed in a way attuned to the material, political, and technological realities with which it works, and to the social actors who will be its users. The argument builds on the concept of appropriate (or "intermediate") technology popularized in the 1970s, with roots in Gandhian critiques of mass production articulated during the Indian independence movement.3 Advocates argued that, in order to be "appropriate," technology should be designed to fit into its local setting, synchronized with available material resources, expertise, and labor time. I observed many such technologies in India while conducting field research in the early 1990s, and learned to appreciate how they could combine function with social, technical, and environmental sustainability. I also learned that "local settings" were inevitably punctured by flows of ideas, people, and goods from elsewhere; with For examples of work on these topics in STS, see G. C. Bowker, "Biodiversity Datadiversity," Social Studies of Science 30:5 (2000): 643-684; P. Edwards, "Global Climate Science, Uncertainty and Politics: Data-laden Models, Model-Filtered Data," Science as Culture 8:4 (1999): 437-472; R. E. Sieber, Computers in the Grassroots: Environmentalists, GIS and Public Policy(Ph.D. Dissertation, Rutgers University, Department of Geography, 1997); D. Sarewitz, R. Pielke, Jr., and R. Byerly, Jr., eds., Prediction: Science, Decision-Making and the Future of Nature (Washington, DC: Island Press, 2000). 2 The Canadian version of Scorecard, once at www.scorecard.org/pollutionwatch, has been taken off the Web. I do not yet know the reasons. Bill Pease, the designer of Scorecard, mentioned the Japanese version in an interview with Erich Schienke in October 2001. 3 See E. F. Schumacher, Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered (New York: Harper & Row, 1973). For a recent analysis that highlights the need for technology to match both users and needs in both complexity and scale, see B. Hazeltine and C. Bull, Appropriate Technology: Tools, Choices and Implications (New York: Academic Press, 1999).

Transfer of Taiwanese Ideas and Technology to the Gambia, West Africa: A Viable Approach to Rural Development

Abstract: The development of Taiwan's agricultural sector contributed significantly to the country's transformation from virtual poverty after World War II to a modern industrial nation. Success resulted from the use of appropriate technologies, developed through an exceptionally close working relationship between government, research and development institutions, extension services and farmers in Taiwan. As part of their overseas development aid programme, the Republic of China on Taiwan has established Technical Missions in those developing countries where it receives political recognition. Among these is The Gambia, West Africa, where one focus of Taiwan's current Technical Mission is the development of women's market gardens. Although the gardens have proved successful, there is doubt as to whether their achievements will be sustained once Taiwan's Technical Mission in The Gambia has ended. Field research in Taiwan and in The Gambia, based largely on participatory techniques, has revealed that the low-tech methods introduced from Taiwan are appropriate for the Gambian environment. However, much depends on whether women participating in the schemes can commit sufficient time and energy to the gardens, as at present this is a limiting factor. The potential of the gardens may also be constrained by a lack of appropriate institutional infrastructure, particularly the scope for profitable disposal of garden produce. A major conclusion of the article is that successful transfer of appropriate technology to The Gambia is likely to be impeded by poorly developed coordination between groups that proved to be key ‘players’ in the development of agriculture in Taiwan: government, research and development institutions, extension services and producers.

The political economy of e‐learning educational development: strategies, standardisation and scalability

Abstract: The development of e‐learning by government through policy, funding allocations, research‐based collaborative projects and alliances has increased recently in both developed and under‐developed nations. The paper notes that government, industry and corporate users are increasingly focusing on standardisation issues and the scalability of technology platforms to meet demand. This paper assesses the challenges for further development that e‐learning faces in the coming years, including: access to appropriate technology, scalability, measurement, and changed governance structures.

Appropriate Technology and Journal Writing: Structured Dialogues that Enhance Learning

Abstract: Of the many available options, instructors should choose "appropriate technology" that meets pedagogical goals with minimum disruption. Student journal assignments follow many teaching "best prac tices" but consume time and energy; we recommend e-mail as the most appropriate choice for journal assignments. E-mail encourages fast and personalized feedback, clear application of course materials, and active learning, and it offers a "structured dialogue" that encourages student-faculty interaction within pedagog ically and logistically appropriate boundaries. Choos ing pedagogically appropriate technology with the low est support requirement and the simplest learning curve encourages faculty adoption and student learning alike.

Co-optimisation through increasing willingness, opportunity and capacity: a generalisable concept of appropriate technology transfer

Abstract: We proposed a methodological framework within which technology transfer could be evaluated, designed and implemented. With two case studies, we showed how when any of the factors of 'willingness', 'opportunity' and 'capacity', on the parts of the transferor and transferee, were overlooked or misjudged, success would be compromised. Finally, a scheme that focused on concurrently increasing these three factors was proposed as a checklist for selecting appropriate technology for transfer.

Agricultural use of treated wastewater: the need for a paradigm shift in sanitation and treatment.

Abstract: Shortages in irrigation water in and around urban areas call for alternative sources, particularly in the (sub)tropical zones. Domestic sewage represents such an alternative source and its nutritional value has been known by farmers for a long time. In many situations even raw (diluted) domestic sewage is used for agricultural purposes, especially in those areas that cannot afford extensive sewerage and treatment systems. However, discharge or re-use of non-treated effluents gives rise to serious environmental problems, including threats to human health. Whenever agricultural use of urban effluents is considered, an integrated approach should be pursued, taking into account the agricultural requirements as well as the possible technological solutions for cost-effective sanitation and treatment. Such an integrated set-up questions the existing paradigms in sanitation and treatment and will call for a more decentralized approach, minimizing the requirements for large-scale infra-structural investments, such as sewerage systems. Also, with respect to the available treatment techniques, economic sustainability is often disregarded in making the final choices. Amongst the available compact technologies for wastewater treatment, the anaerobic (pre-)treatment is seen as an appropriate technology, but so far, its potential has hardly been utilized. Most interestingly, anaerobic treatment is ideal for implementation in a decentralized mode. The products of anaerobic treatment consist of nutrient-rich effluents, stabilized digested sludge and energy rich biogas. In particular, the former two can be used beneficially by local farmers, whereas the biogas produced can be used on the site if it is produced in sufficient quantities. The present paper discusses the prospects of anaerobic (pre-)treatment, embedded in centralized and decentralized treatment and re-use concepts. Its cost-effectiveness may lead to a more rapid implementation of productive sewage reclamation, while the environmental problems are concomitantly addressed.

Monitoring Technology Misuse & Abuse: A Five-Step Plan for Creating a Digital Citizenship Program in Your School.

Abstract: OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, IT has become evident that a behavior pattern of misuse and abuse with respect to technology is beginning to emerge in our society. This outbreak of technology misuse and abuse is documented in continual news coverage on TV, in newspapers and on the Internet--both inside and outside of schools. The endless list of misuse and abuse includes hacking into school servers, using e mail to intimidate or threaten students, illegally downloading music, plagiarizing information from the Internet, using cellular phones during class time, accessing pornographic Web sites, and playing video games during class. Therefore, if you are using technology in your district, you must begin to deal with digital citizenship in a significant way. Five-Step Program One of the first steps in dealing with digital citizenship is awareness--determining whether digital citizenship is a significant issue within your school district. Digital citizenship can be defined as the norms of behavior with regard to technology use. Therefore, the Digital Citizenship Audit is a quick way for your administrators and teachers to determine if their technology is being properly used, misused or abused. Start creating your own program by following these five steps: Step 1: Complete the Digital Citizenship Audit (see chart below). Step 2: Analyze your results using the scoring guides (see Page 25). Step 3: Have your technology leadership team discuss the following questions after they have completed the audit: * Is there a significant problem? * If there is a significant problem, how aware are teachers, students, board members and community members? Step 4: Engage stakeholders in a discussion of your audit findings and extend the discussion to include the following questions: * How do I use technology? * How does my technology behavior impact others? * What courtesy do I extend to others when I am using technology? * When using technology, does my behavior infringe on others' rights? * How do I/we use technology to learn new ideas? * Do I act responsible when using technology? * Do I act in a way to keep myself safe when using technology? Step 5: Design a digital citizenship program in your school (or district) that deals with the appropriate technology behavior. Have your technology leadership team focus on the following questions as they design the program: * With regard to technology use, how does our emphasis on "rules and regulations" compare with our emphasis on "education of our stakeholders"? * Where should digital citizenship be taught in our curriculum? * Who should teach digital citizenship? * What kinds of staff development opportunities do we need to provide administrators, teachers, staff and stakeholders as a prerequisite to effectively implement a digital citizenship program? Technology-infused teaching and learning has become a necessary part of the educational environment. However, that digital landscape is being littered with examples of poor and unacceptable forms of digital citizenship. Digital citizenship programs require awareness, critical analysis and well-conceived strategies in order to help eliminate this waste. Technology leaders must raise their expectations for technology-infused teaching and learning. It is time to focus equally on the effective use of technology as well as the appropriate use of technology. We cannot afford one without the other if we expect to produce productive citizens in the 21st century. Scoring Guide: Individual (Horizontal) Score Total the points for each individual category horizontally. This score provides a general picture of the relevancy of the specific digital citizenship issue. 4-5: Somewhat Important or Extremely Important--You have concerns about digital citizenship issues and are either working on solutions or would like to begin. …

Community-partnered contracts in developing countries

Abstract: There is a growing recognition in developing countries of community-based infrastructure procurement and its potential to achieve sustainable development. The advantages of such an approach are that it encourages participative negotiation of activities and speedier implementation, the use of local resources, skills and appropriate technology, and entrepreneurship within communities. These wider socio-economic impacts arising from community-partnered micro-projects can lead to more sustainable infrastructure through meeting local stakeholders’ needs, community empowerment and capacity building. This paper describes the development and use of performance indicators for community-contracted urban infrastructure provision in low-income communities in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In particular, these indicators refer to the dimensions of time and cost; some key performance yardsticks are also proposed. The urban infrastructure and services referred to in these cases are the facilities needed for water and sa...

Case study of a solar photovoltaic elementary lightning system for a poor and remote mountain village in Nepal

Abstract: Nepal is situated in the lap of the Himalayas and landlocked between China to the north, and India to the south. The country is known for its natural beauty, and as the land of the highest mountains in the world. 88 % of Nepal’s population live in remote and difficult to access mountain areas. It is one of the only countries in the world with a lower female life expectancy rate than the male. While in the cities it has become “normal” to have access to energy services, 85% of Nepal’s rural communities are deprived of even the most basic energy services. 99% of the 2 billion people in the world that are without access to electricity, live in developing countries. Nepal is one of these countries, and four out of five live in rural areas. Furthermore, over 90% of the population of Nepal belongs to the 2.4 billion people relying on traditional biomass such as firewood, agricultural residues and dung, for their day to day cooking, heating and lighting purposes. The village of Chauganphaya, in the northwestern district of Humla, belongs to the poorest villages of Nepal. Here, as elsewhere in Nepal, the forests are gradually being stripped bare, to meet the minimum energy needs of cooking, heating and lighting for the village folk. Unfortunately this is being done without any sustainable reforestation efforts. Furthermore, cooking and heating indoors on open fire places has had a direct chronic impact on the health of village folk, resulting in the low life expectancy for women, and the high death rate of children under 5. This thesis goes into detail about various lighting technologies available for the remote mountain communities and suggests that the WLED lights are a real option for elementary rural electrification. This conclusion has been drawn on the basis of an electrification project undertaken in the above mentioned village of Chauganphaya. Efforts made through a solar PV village electrification project with low wattage WLED technology, were successful, in that all 63 homes of the village of Chauganphaya are now able to have three lights each in their homes. This was made possible with each light consuming only 1 Watt and with a locally developed and manufactured 2-axis self-tracking frame for the four 75-Watt solar PV modules. The Powerhouse with the self-tracking frame, battery bank and its charging and discharging units are centrally located in the village. The whole village has been divided into four clusters, with 15-18 homes per cluster. The central powerhouse is connected to the main house of each of the clusters by means of an underground power line distribution network through armored cables. Likewise, each house in a cluster is connected to the main cluster home by means of an underground armored cable. In this way the power distribution is approximately equal and in the case of one cluster distribution line facing a problem, the other homes in that cluster are not effected and will still have power. This rural electrification project was not undertaken in a vacuum but as one part of a wider holistic grass root community development project. In the initial stage, a detailed survey, with questions specifically designed for this community was conducted, in order to assess the living conditions of the people. In the next stage, with the help of the outcome of the survey, four integrated projects were developed to improve the living conditions of the people. These projects aim to address the most urgent needs of the people as identified by themselves. Following is a gist of these projects: • The rural electrification project with low wattage WLED technology. • Each family from the Chauganphaya village has been able to purchase an improved smokeless metal stove at a subsidized rate. This has been specially designed to accommodate their cooking and eating habits, based on locally available foods. It also heats their rooms for most of the year, and has provisions for boiling water. • In order to be able to purchase such a stove at a subsidised rate, each household had to build a pit latrine, after undergoing a simple training in building such a latrine. • The whole village community participated in the repair, and rebuilding of their village drinking water system, with the result that there are several tap stands to be found in the village. The survey undertaken before any of these projects were carried out will be repeated once a year, to assess the actual impact these projects have, on a long-term basis. Developing and carrying out these projects in the challenging environment we find ourselves in, with the ongoing political unrest and the continuing war between the Government troops and the rebels, and the ever present caste system has been an enormous task. Nonetheless, at the time of writing this, the electrification project should have been fully installed and operational. There are some minor improvements still needed, such as, the unexpected voltage drop in one cluster due to extended underground cable installation. Mitigation of that is planned as early as the political situation allows it. The thesis goes into details about various lighting technologies for remote mountain communities, arguing that WLED lights are a real option for this purpose. In order to design a solar PV system according to the local conditions, it is crucial to understand the available solar energy resource. As no solar irradiation data for Chauganphaya or Humla are available, a study was undertaken to gather data from the NASA web site, and to generate solar irradiation data through the METEONORM software tool. As both these methods rely only on satellite data, a solar radiation monitoring and data recording system was designed, built and installed in the KU HARS in Simikot. Since May 2004, the daily solar radiation is being recorded on a horizontal, a 30° south inclined, and on a 2-axis self-tracking solar PV frame. The Simikot HARS and Chauganphaya solar PV systems are designed with a back of the envelope, as well as with a professional solar PV system design software tool, called PVSyst3.31. All the different equipment used in both PV systems are looked at in detail in this thesis. In comparison to the HARS and the Chauganphaya village PV systems, the Tangin village SHS project, installed by a private company through the Government solar PV subsidy program, serves as a comparative case study. Sustainability and appropriateness are crucial factors, which have to be considered in any rural community development project. What is appropriate technology and how one can strive towards more sustainable projects, is looked at on the basis of the experience of the Chauganphaya village project. “What can be Learned” tries to highlight the most important lessons learned form this project, up to the present stage. The thesis concludes, that the installed solar PV village system in Chauganphaya is an appropriate way to enable the poorest of the poor to bring light into their dark homes. It also reiterates the fact that additional to the lights, the smokeless metal stove, the pit latrine, and access to clean and pure drinking water, are important integrated parts of an appropriate holistic community development endeavour. It is expected that their synergetic effect will multiply the final impact upon the improved living conditions of the local community as opposed to their individual benefits.

Appropriate technology for automatic passenger counting on public transport vehicles in South Africa

Abstract: The National Land Transport Transition Act 2000 requires that Current Public Records (CPTRs) be completed by each planning authority. The CPTRs consist of data on infrastructure, fleet, timetables, routes, passenger volumes, etc regarding public transport in the planning authorities region. However this data is collected manually and therefore time consuming and subject to inaccuracy. The main aim of this project is to explore possibilities of collecting most of the data required for transport planning electronically. A market survey was conducted to establish the need for automated passenger counting systems. The results showed that indeed there is a need for automated passenger counting systems. This paper contains a technology scan on the automated passenger counting systems that gives a basic understanding of these systems. Furthermore, an extensive research was undertaken to identify automated passenger counting systems developers. Ten systems developers where identified. A database of such developers was developed together with their contact details. Passenger counters can be categorized according to four groupings based on the key technology used for counting. The following groupings exist: ! Manual (Turnstiles) ! Infrared (IR) beams ! Infrared optic sensors ! Low ultrasonic frequency sensors, and ! Treadle mats. (Load cells) ! Video camera A field trial was undertaken with Infodev on the City of Johannesburg’s Metrobus. The main objective was to test the system on real life situation and its acceptability to passengers. It was found that people did not notice the presence of the sensors on top of the door. Also the system gave accuracy levels around 99%. 1. OVERVIEW OF PROJECT 1.1 Description of Project Transport planning authorities are required by national legislation to complete Current Public Transport Records (CPTRs) on an annual basis. A number of municipalities and provinces have already completed surveys to comply with these requirements. These surveys were very expensive (varying between R300 000 to R1 million per district or metropolitan municipality) and quite often, either not in a useful form or too questionable to be used for transport planning purposes. The CPTRs consist of data on infrastructure, fleet, timetables, routes, passenger volumes, etc. The information collection process on routes and passenger volumes was most challenging and required surveyors to travel on taxis, buses, and trains. These surveys were subsequently most expensive and time-consuming, and the accuracy questionable since it is difficult to report the route the taxi or bus is travelling. The aim of this project is to explore possibilities of electronic data collection on public transport services for transport planning and contract management purposes. The project will also focus on technologies that can track vehicle movements along a route (with the use of Geographical Positioning Systems).

Skill Acquisition and the Loss of Appropriate Technology

Abstract: The five-stage skill-acquisition model developed by Stuart Dreyfus is revisited as an integral part of culture acquisition. This examination sheds light on the role intuitive knowledge plays during the 4th and 5th stages. When modern technology becomes universal and detaches itself from culture, this intuitive knowledge changes. This accounts for the loss of technologies that were socially appropriate and environmentally sustainable.

The Place of Cd-Rom Technology in Library Development in Nigeria

Abstract: KEYWORDS CD-ROM; Nigerian library development; information storage and retrieval; electronic information ABSTRACT While the computer market in Nigeria has been flourishing and expanding; its applications in library and information services have not contributed much to that expansion. This paper then tries to identify the problems and eventually stressed the importance and relevance of CD-ROM technology to the development of library services in Nigeria. The paper shows that CD-ROM is a more appropriate technology for Nigeria because of the relatively harsh environment. CD-ROM is found to be a more efficient medium of storage for publishing large amount of information. The qualities and significance of CD-ROM over Online industry are stressed and the paper finally recommends the uses of CD-ROM technology for Nigerian library development.The problems to be faced by the use of CD-ROM in Nigerian libraries are also identified. The paper then advises both the government and other relevant agencies like National Universities Commission to be constantly organizing seminars and workshops on CD-ROM applications to Nigerian libraries.

The Role of Science and Technology in the 21st Century Making Knowledge Work for the Poor

Abstract: While our world is being transformed by rapid developments in ‘new’ technology, nearly one-third of humanity continues to be deprived of the benefits available from technologies centuries old. Northern markets rather than Southern needs increasingly determine what scientific and technological advances are developed and for whom. We urgently need to reclaim science and technology for the public good as well as private gain if we are to meet the poverty targets of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. However, rather than simply applying technologies to poverty, we need to help poor women and men access useful knowledge so that they can choose and use appropriate technologies.

Refuting objections to a Global Rural Network, GRNet, for developing nations

Abstract: In a previous article, we suggested that it is now time to undertake a Grand Challenge project: providing Internet connectivity for every village in every developing nation. Doing so would require perhaps a decade and billions of dollars for design and planning, procurement, installation and operation. Critics object that such a project would not be worth the effort and investment. This article considers nine objections to such an undertaking. 1. Internet connectivity would be nice, but it is not a high priority. 2. Internet service has been offered in rural areas of developing nations, and there is little demand for it. 3. There are no applications of interest or value to illiterate rural people who do not speak English. 4. There is no sustainable business model. 5. Developing nations lack the people and resources to do research. 6. Even if the world community can justify sponsoring the research leading to a concrete backbone plan, developing nations cannot afford to implement it. 7. Villagers cannot afford to use the network even if the backbone transport and connection are free. 8. Developing nations cannot afford high–speed connectivity — low–cost store–and–forward technology is more appropriate technology for a poor, developing nation. 9. We should focus on cities where there is already demand, not rural areas. We discuss each of these, and conclude with a brief outline of next steps.

Assessment of the utility of technology transfer guidelines as determined by the evaluation of the RESCUER program in rural Uganda

Abstract: The role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in disseminating knowledge, particularly knowledge of new technologies, in order to facilitate development can be paramount. However, if technologies are not transferred properly, development potential can be severely limited. To address this issue, a number of lists of technology transfer guidelines have arisen to prescribe proper technology transfer practices. The purpose of this study is to address the question of whether technology transfer guidelines have predictive abilities by examining the Rural Extended Services and Care for Ultimate Emergency Relief (RESCUER) program, a case of development aided by an ICT transfer for congruence with existing technology transfer guidelines. In this study, program descriptions and updates were compared with pre-existing technology transfer guidelines to determine their utility in real-world technology transfer situations. This analysis determined that most, but not all guidelines seemed critical indicators of success, however, more case studies would have to be examined before a definitive conclusion can be reached. Although the guidelines cannot be the single predictive factor of success in a development program based on technology transfer, adherence to the guidelines could act as a general framework from which to begin assessing technology transfer programs in their initial stages.

Public Investment and Environmental Sustainability of Agricultural Production in China

Abstract: The excessive application of fertilizer and pesticides in grain production in China has posed a threat to the environmental sustainability of agricultural production. One of the major reasons of the increasing usage of chemical inputs by farmers is their trying to reach higher yields, especially In absence of adequate public inputs, such as development and extension of appropriate technology and necessary production infrastructure, etc. Based on the crop-specific data of the past 20 years, this paper examines how the public Investments in agricultural researches could impact on the reduction of farmers' private material inputs of major grain crops in China. It manifests that the increased investments in public sector, especially in agricultural researches, is a favorable and effective way to reduce farmers' private material inputs and should be given a priority consideration in the policy emendation to increase yields and improve production sustainability.