Appropriate technology refers to technology applications designed with special attention
towards environmental, ethical, cultural, social and economic aspects of the community
it is intended for. With these goals in mind, appropriate technology usually requires fewer
resources, is easier to maintain, has a lower overall cost and a decreased impact on the
environment.
The term is also often utilized to describe suitable simpler technologies in developing
countries and emerging democracies that can most effectively achieve the intended
purpose in a specific location. Thus, taking the level of development into account, the
term therefore is usually used in two ways:
- To utilize the most effective technology to address the needs of developing
areas
- To use socially and environmentally acceptable technologies in industrialized
countries
Following these principles, there is a specific debate related to the use of ICTs in different
development sectors.
Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) refers to the application of ICTs
within the field of international socioeconomic development. In this case, ICT4D aims to apply
information technologies to alleviate poverty, and ICTs can be applied to directly benefit
the disadvantaged population, or in an indirect sense where the ICTs assist governments
(supported by non-governmental organisations) in order to improve the socio-economic
conditions in a given country.
Therefore, examples of appropriate technologies in ICTs are, for instance, mobile phones,
which reach a wide geographical coverage. In a similar vein, e-mail and web-access provides
rather inexpensive services through the utilization of cooperative computer networks that can
run wireless ad hoc networks. For remote areas, satellite internet access is more expensive but
has the advantage of operating on a higher speed and increases connectivity.
Types of initiatives in relation to ICT4Dev are:
- Infrastructure: providing suitable computer hardware, operating systems,
software, and connectivity to the internet. These would include the affordability
of software and hardware, and the ability to legally share software
- Capacity building and training in ICTs: installing, maintaining, and developing
hardware and software
- Digital content and services: e-learning, e-health, e-business/e-commerce,
increasing digital literacy
- Regulation of the ICTs Sector and digital rights: universal access vs. monopolistic
structures issues, intellectual property rights issues, privacy, security, and
digital identity
