Techno fix case studies

·      Luddites- people who directly appose technology.

·      USA is home to 200,000 Amish who reject modern technology such as car, telephones and power lines.

·      They object because of there religion as they feel they shouldn’t and don’t want to live in connection with ‘non Amish’ people.

·      This is a deliberate dismissing of technology

·      Haiti suffers from environmental determinism- AS A RESULT OF NOT HAVING ACCSESS TO TECHNOLOGY, SOME PEOPLES LIVES ARE SHAPED BY PHYSICAL FACTORS SUCH AS WEATHER.

·      Haiti lack basic access to technology

·      Lack of access has meant a spread of HIV/AIDS

·      Drugs are used to prolong life, however they are V expensive

·      The drugs are painted and protected meaning the developing countries are unable to access them or create a cheaper alternative.

·      Lack of technology has meant traditional Roman Catholic views have been the only path-meaning no condoms=MORE HIV

·      Lack of education means limited education to condoms and other protection measures

·      Leapfrogging creates a ‘quick fix’ and short cut to desirable technology without going through the progression stages.

·      1988 India had 22 landlines per 1000 people-THEY WERE TO EXPENCIVE

·      Mobile phone service was introduced in 1994

·      Since 2000 mobile phones use has increased from 3.5 mobiles per 1000 people to 230.

·      Cheap headsets from $20 have fueled growth

·      Low price calls

·      Lack of competition

·      Bottom up innovation, villages using car batteries to charge mobiles when electricity is absent.

·      Why the phones are so important-

·      Rural/ urban migration of families means they have the means to stay in contact with each other.

·      Farmers have the ability to check crop prices meaning they get a fair price for their yields.

·      Small business has the ability to stay in contact with customers and advertise more efficiently.

·      Since technology was first developed the consequences have been hard to predict due to the new innovations.

·      CFCs were developed in the 1920s as refrigerants

·      They are non-toxic and non reactive

·      Used in cooling devices and aerosol sprays.

·      CFCs CONSEQUENCES

·      Improved human health as better access to fresh food and correctly stored medicine

·      Concerns over graffiti rise in the 1960s

·      1970 noticing that there could be potential detrimental effects to the ozone.

·      Banned in the USA in 1976

·      Investment in technology megaprojects

·      Large-scale technology reform

·      Created an 8-10% growth in GDP.

·      Three Gorges Dam-1994-2011

·      Hydroelectric power up to 23,000MW

·      Flood control scheme on the Yangtze River

·      SOCIAL AND ENVIROMENTAL IMPACTS

·      Considerable increase in pollution

·      1,300 historical sites have been flooded

·      4 million people displaced

·      Threated species such as the Chinese river dolphin and d Siberian crane

·      Defined- Farming technology introduced in the 1960s will increase yields by using higher yield crops such as maize and rice as well as fertilizer, irrigation and mechanization.

·      AGRA founded scheme of $200 million to Africa.

·      Low-level investment in African crops meant yields were very small

·      Investment has created a quicker growth and rejuvenation cycle.

·      Helped 180million small African farmers.

·      Provided supporting technology to insure that farmers can produce a surpluses meaning they are able to increase profit by selling them.

·      2008-100,000 micro generation systems were installed in the UK

·      90% of which was solar thermal- used energy from sunlight to heat water.

·      NEGITIVES-

·      Initial costs are high- not accessible to low-income families.

·      Many sites are not suitable for wind or sola due to their geographical location.

·      Government grants stopped in 2007 due to high demand

·      An estimated 10million sites could benefit from the technology.