Appropriate technology

Appropriate technology is technology chosen in a way to be sensitive to its context of use.

Appropriate technology is generally considered to be that which is designed with the user in mind, and is often small-scale, often labor-intensive, energy-efficient, sustainable, and amenable to local maintenance and control.

The term "intermediate technology" was used by the economist Dr. E.F. Schumacher in his pioneering work, w:Small is Beautiful.

Appropriate technology resources for education

Appropedia is an active "sustainability wiki" with a focus on appropriate technology and developing country contexts.

• The Appropriate technology category has many pages, but the wiki as a whole (with 5000 pages) tends to view technologies, techniques, policies etc through the lens of appropriateness to the context and to the environment, i.e. appropriate technology.
• Permaculture is a growing focus of Appropedia. Permaculture this is an approach to food production and living which includes a major focus on appropriate technology.
• Various university classes use Appropedia as a platform for students to document their projects or to post their written project. This includes ENGR305 Appropriate Technology at Humboldt State University in Northern California, among others.
• A teacher's guide describes how to use Appropedia with your class.

Wikipedia has an appropriate technology category.