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Low-tech Inventions That Help Change Lives

Posted by Zonk on from the best-thing-since-the-shoelace dept.

angelaelle writes "The current issue of Popular Mechanics is featuring their Breakthrough Awards program for inventors. Some of the winning inventions help improve the living conditions for people in third world countries using low-tech materials and assembly methods. Technologies like this cookstove for people in Darfur, and in the case of this Windbelt developed by Shawn Frayne, could be used to provide cheap, clean energy alternatives. The website features fascinating, inspiring videos talking about the inventor's 'eureka moment', focusing on the inventor as well as the technology."

9 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. #1 invention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The condom should be at the top of that list...

    1. Re:#1 invention by Mikachu · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Wrong on that one. Condoms have been in use since ancient Egyptian times. The oldest known physical condom was found in 1640, made of animal intestine. I'd hardly call that high-tech.

  2. Re:Chimney starter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    these really aren't "inventions," just re-applications of existing items and concepts.
    Um, what? 99.99% of inventions are "just re-applications of existing items and concepts", including such boring and inconsequential devices as the car, the airplane, and the atomic bomb.
  3. Appropriate Technology by EaglemanBSA · · Score: 4, Insightful

    My master's degree is design of an appropriate technology vehicle -- turns out, the appropriate technology movement was abandoned, even to the point of making the phrase a faux-pas in the engineering community based on the idea that it provided mediocre solutions, and that the modern world was simply trying to placate the developing world with sub-par solutions. After projects like the OLPC however, I think it's become evident that applications of simple technology to problems that demand it deserve just as much attention. Giving someone who can't afford gasoline or buy spare car parts a car is like giving Robinson Caruso a cell phone where he can't get reception.

    --
    Quiz: True or False -- On a scale of 1 to 10, what is your middle name?
  4. Re:Chimney starter by gad_zuki! · · Score: 2, Insightful

    >just re-applications of existing items and concepts.

      Cars are just horseless carriages. The web is just a BBS with better graphics. Heart surgery is just hand surgery with more blood.

    Reapplication of existing items and concepts it almost the definition of invention.

  5. Re:Hexayurts by noidentity · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "A roomy shelter costing just over $200, takes just a few hours to build, and has the R-value of a typical house."

    Apparently longer than they spent on their website. Seriously, why does it read as a random gob of sentences about the Hexayurt, yet not answer my basic questions?

  6. Re:Hexayurts by replicant108 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Fascinating videos. The last one especially is excellent.

    Ghandi+Bucky Fuller+FOSS = interesting stuff!

    This is a page with more info on the Hexayurt:

    http://www.appropedia.org/Hexayurt_Project

  7. Use them NOW by Ralph+Spoilsport · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Use these energy saving systems NOW in countries like the USA and Europe. Conserve energy NOW, especially oil and natgas. Oil can be made into all kinds of amazing substances and burning it up as fuel is like making logs out of $20 bills. Natgas is great for making into fertiliser. We need oil for materials and natgas for food. We need to use Other Technologies for electrical generation (Solar, Wind, hydro, nuke, geothermal, whatever) so we can stretch out our supply of petrochemicals as long as possible.

    People can do their part by using these personal conservation technologies in their own lives.

    A few times a week, I set out a big pot of stew or chili or soup in my solar cooker. Even in the dead of winter, I come home to a hot meal at the end of the day. It Works. And it's awesome.

    RS

    --
    Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
  8. Re:stupid by feepness · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm sorry, the answer was colonialism . But thanks for playing. You did read your own link, didn't you?

    All the same, nearly 50 years since the end of the colonial era, is it time perhaps for us to stop blaming the trauma of that encounter for all our problems? Who truly is to blame for this?

    To my mind, many of Africa's most profound problems stem from the way Africans look at themselves: all too often, Africa suffers from low self-esteem.

    I'm sorry, it looks like you didn't. But thanks for playing.