Open supply suitable era (OSAT) refers to technology which might be designed withinside the identical style as free [1] and open-supply software. These technology have to be "suitable era" (AT) - that means era this is designed with unique attention to the environmental, ethical, cultural, social, political, and good value elements of the network it's miles supposed for. The case for OSAT is made here. [2]
Benefits[edit | edit source]
Open source is a technology development technique that leverages the power of widespread peer review and process transparency. Appropedia is an open source suitable technology example. Here, anyone may learn how to create and use AT without worrying about patents. At the same time, anyone can contribute ideas, observations, experimental data, deployment logs, and other information to the collaborative open source knowledge base.
It has been suggested that open source adaptive technology has significant potential to drive applied sustainability.[3] The built-in continual peer-review can result in better quality, higher reliability, and more flexibility than traditional technology design/patenting. The fact that knowledge is freely available also means lower prices, especially for technologies that do not benefit greatly from mass production. Finally, OSAT makes predatory intellectual property lock-in obsolete. This is especially true in the context of technology aimed at alleviating suffering and saving lives in poor countries.
The "open source" paradigm has the potential to stimulate long-term development. There are (at least) three compelling explanations for this:[4]
- It allows for both production and consumption;
- It facilitates localization for communities that lack the financial means to persuade commercial developers to create localized versions of their goods;
- It allows for localisation for communities that must be free in the sense of "gratis" as well as "libre" — a crucial factor for building communities.
Considerations in Ethics[edit | edit source]
Despite the fact that support for solutions to developing world problems is remarkably low, many researchers, firms, and universities are working on products to aid sustainable development. According to Vinay Gupta, those developers should agree on three principles:[5]
- I will not allow profit motives to deprive any human being of life-sustaining technology.
- I shall make any patentable works available for free to those engaged in humanitarian activities, unless this would violate other contractual obligations.
- Under no circumstances would I utilize patent law to stifle innovation or service delivery to the poor.
Literature-Based Support[edit | edit source]
• It's been looked at how openly sharing designs, specs, and technical knowledge might improve the effectiveness, general adoption, and innovation of relevant technology .[3]
• OSAT is said to aid in the development of medical technology, particularly in underdeveloped countries [6]. .[7]
• It is claimed that sharing design processes, appropriate tools, and technical information allows for more effective and rapid development of appropriate technologies in both industrialized and non-industrialized regions. [8]
• The use of open source appropriate technology classroom projects has been shown to be effective in forging the connection between physics and social benefit at the university level:[9] This approach has the potential to leverage university students' access to resources and testing equipment to further the development of appropriate technology. Similarly, OSAT has been used to improve service learning. [10][11]
Criticism[edit | edit source]
This is definitely not a mainstream concept, and it faces the same objections as open source software. Furthermore, the demise of the suitable technology movement has been attributed to the Reagan administration's'remasculinization' of the United States following the Vietnam War. [12] Pursell claims that AT failed due to its incapacity to combat agribusiness, massive private utilities, and international construction firms. These organizations used an elitist, restrictive, and traditional concept of "technology" to further their own interests rather than that of the developing world .[12]
References[edit | edit source]
1. Gratis = This is commonly stated in the phrase "free as in free beer," as opposed to Libre= "free as in free speech."
~Mary Jane B. Candol, "Open Source Suitable Innovation".
