Essential Interplay of Technology and Culture - Tapa blanda

Technologists and inventors are usually so carried away with their innovation that they totally overlook the customs and ambitions of the user community they wish to uplift. The culture of underdeveloped nations may serve as barriers against technological progress and various marketing approaches. A guide like this is long overdue, encouraging and creating the essential interaction between two different worlds, before expensive development projects are launched. This is achieved in explaining the norms, values and beliefs of selected African cultures. Case studies of both failures and successes of envisaged technological developments are cited, lifting out essential elements by way of entertaining examples. Reference is also made to successful self-help food-production projects launched in India and Nigeria. ‘Essential Interplay of Technology and Culture’ skilfully depicts current shortcomings to be mastered by engineers and marketers, who wish to spread their wings beyond their borders. The reverse is also true, since simple English is used to assist rural communities to understand what is required by developers to achieve mutual success.

Prof Ernst Uken grew up among the Zulus in South Africa. He has a PhD in Nuclear Science and three Master’s degrees in Radiochemistry, Transport Energy and Economics. As founder of the CPUT Energy Institute he published numerous scientific articles and presented papers in over 20 countries. He co-edited 'Modern Methods of Geochemical Analysis'.