About Demotech, design for self-reliance and our invitation to participate

Demotech's design initiatives aim at "More joy per person". Life has more to offer then any consumer walhalla promises. Reduction of technology and in its wake economy, can go together with the raising of its quality. Far more comfort and leisure time can be had if we only re-design technology according to appropriate technical guidelines. Not meaning this is easy. But -yes- meaning it can easily be done in an Open Source collaborative approach. There are many examples that guide the way, but -no- such a collaborative culture joint effort still has to come into being.

Redesign, the design space that offers sustainable solutions

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Demotech's contribution consists of technical research into ultra low cost and truly sustainable technical solutions. Next to this, Demotech centers on how to get the story about such solutions across to an unwilling world, without hope or expectations that such solutions do- respectively can exist.

Listen and Learn, contacting a new reality

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In search for an enjoyable sustainable world Demotech wants to draw lessons from people living in poverty. "Learning from Poverty" is the short cut towards a sustainable society.

Think and Write, structuring new thoughts

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Proper study of the positive aspects of life in poverty that fit into the "Technology within Poverty" proves to be inspiring. To start re-design at the economic level of poverty gives the realistic framework for sustainability. Demotech found numerous options for this approach and has succeeded to get one generally accepted. We listed similar successes elsewhere.

Designs that assist these targets can be found in this group. Demotech, design for self-reliance is a Netherlands based foundation, dedicated to Appropriate technology.


Demotech's categories of designs

Means to get informed

http://www.demotech.org/d-design/d-categories.php?cat=1

Empowering people to transmit their ideas to others in demonstrations or exhibitions. To make construction manuals for designs easy to use, but also easy to make. Means for studying. Aids to run a project.

Making made easier

http://www.demotech.org/d-design/d-categories.php?cat=2

Practical tricks, handy aids and small tools that help to make things in a faster, and generally more efficient way. Many of the Demotech designs make good use of such tools or working methods.

Better living

http://www.demotech.org/d-design/d-category.php?d=3

Better living is about raising the quality of what is a home: free to choose who to share it with. Get in the good things as light and air. Keep out what is not wanted: rain, heat, cold. A place to organize your life in, with a family, with work, with neighbors and all this in comfort and in peace. World wide this is hard to get. It has priority to become available in a sustainable way.

Water & Sanitation

http://www.demotech.org/d-design/d-categories.php?cat=4

Project initiatives to improve access to water and sanitation, to remove restrictions of cost, to reduce the effort to supply, to ascertain safe use and consumption, to organize proper disposal or secondary use. Ways of teaching and promoting rapid and general adoption of appropriate solutions

Localize Energy

http://www.demotech.org/d-design/d-categories.php?cat=6

Means to harvest energy from sun, wind, water flow, animal and human power. Means to extract energy from burning fuel. Means to convert energy, mechanical, electrical and heating. Mechanical components for conversion of the speed of rotation. Means to do so locally with what is locally available.

Sound mobility

http://www.demotech.org/d-design/d-categories.php?cat=7

Redesign transportation for people and goods where it matters for sustainability, for quality, in conditions of poverty, for people disabled. Wether used individually or collectively. Add more flexibility, comfort and fun to transportation.


Location and contact details

Biesenwal 3, 6211 AD Maastricht, the Netherlands email: info AT demotech.org

See Also

Feedback

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