Where High Tech Meets Low

June 27, 2008

Paul Polak might have a passing resemblance to Santa Claus, but he is more about empowerment than handouts. Polak wrote Out of Poverty, published earlier this year, and founded IDE, an organization dedicated to helping the poor through a market-based approach. His vision inspired the exhibition Design for the Other 90%, which is traveling around the country. Today's Tech 10 describes innovative technological applications from the exhibit that are helping to alleviate poverty in the world.

One of the keys to successful designs for poor areas is to combine high tech with low, looking at ways to bypass stodgy 20th century technologies with new ones and re-imagine old standards like irrigation pumps and even the wheel (see photo). There's a good chance you're already familiar with several designs that made the list--especially if you've been reading this blog!--but there were several innovations beyond the exhibition's scope that are equally cool and inspiring:

Vaccine stickers: PATH makes stickers that show when a vaccine has been exposed to heat and spoiled. It prevents bad vaccines from being used and good ones from being needlessly thrown away.

IMI Wheelchairs: Intelligent Mobility International makes affordable wheelchairs from bicycles for use in poor communities. They are not only extremely functional but also durable and look high-end.

Lightweight Emergency Shelter: A nifty shelter concept by Patrick Wharram that won last year's ShelterMe competition, organized by Design 21's Social Design Network. Cynthia E. Smith, who curated Design for the Other 90%, was a judge.

Photo: The Q-Drum. Credit: P. J. Hendrikse