Message-ID: <199610011641.MAA04366@shell.monmouth.com> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 12:41:18 -0400 From: Wilbur Streett <mailto:wstreett@MONMOUTH.COM> Subject: Let's start with a definition of "Technology" To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
I've been watching the discussion of "Appropriate Technology" with some fascination over the last few days. I think that one of the major issues is that the word "Technology" is being used somewhat incorrectly in many of the contexts.I define "Technology" as "the study of useful techniques." As in "Technique" combined with "ology" as in "study of".
That means that a computer is not "technology", it's a product. That also means than an old computer is not inappropriate if it teaches some useful techniques.
The application of technology isn't dropping a computer into a country, but working with the people and helping them to study the available techniques, help them define which ones are useful, and letting them make the decisions as to which techniques to apply. But they make the choice, and they bear the responsibility for that decision.
Wilbur