The schedule of classes for the Spring Semester 2019 is now available. Classes will start on June 7 (Friday). Please prepare a “one-slide” presentation for your “Self-Introduction”. See you there!
Venue: Medical Science Bldg 4F (Room 305/308) [Google Map]
Schedule of Classes (Spring Semester) Every Friday, 18:15-20:00
Introduction to Appropriate Technology (1-credit) June 7 June 14 June 21
Appropriate Technology (5-credits) June 28 July 5 July 12
Field Research To be conducted around August to September (to be arranged by students)
Students this year presented their output. They also shared what they have experienced throughout the course along with some specialty foods and drinks from Nagano Prefecture and Vanuatu. There was product demo session and poster presentations.
Students of Appropriate Technology throughout the years have heard about the story of Mila. This video was frequently used to explain the concept of “Appropriate Technology” or “Improving the Quality of Life”. This video was produced by Kopernik.
This company is founded by Toshi Nakamura and Ewa Wojkowska in 2010. Their motivation was despite the availability of life-changing and affordable technologies, these technologies weren’t reaching the people who lived in the most remote and hard to reach parts of the world – the last mile. They have been bridging the technology gap ever since.
For this year, we have invited them to participate our Demo Day. They will be evaluating the student’s projects and will share about their current strategies to bridge the gaps in technology especially in developing areas.
Lina (Sakai) Watanabe, the President and Representative Director of Fermenstation Co., Ltd. conducted a lecture and workshop for AppTech students last November 30, 2018. She shared her stories and insights about working with the local communities in Iwate Prefecture. Introducing technology into a community could be tough, that’s why it is crucial to work with the people and the local government for its implementation. She discussed about the importance of branding and design in promoting new technologies. She have given some advice on what are the funding options available for a seed technology and how to communicate with investors. She also tackled about the issues caused by wild animals especially in rural areas in Japan.
Lavatron is designed to improve the conventional stove used by locals in Vanuatu
Students who conducted fieldwork in Nagano Prefecture are conducting a prototype demo of their product Lilbuck
External mentors were also invited during this session. Felix Ipanaque (Entrepreneur/Engineer) and Marita Ibanez (Visual Artist/Designer) were there to advise students about the sustainability of their projects. During this workshop, students have presented the current developments of their projects and what are their long-term vision for it. Then each team received advice from external mentors and course facilitators.
The discussions focused on answering questions like: Why will their target users continuously use their products? Who will fund/buy their products, What is the business model? What are the strategies to be used in introducing their product to the community?
The take-home message during this workshop is to always include the community in the branding of your product and always seek the support of the local government for its implementation. To achieve this, the product should have a clear mission/vision that various stakeholders could easily relate to.
The Appropriate Technology Demo Day 2018 will be held at Global Village Community Center on December 8, 2018 from 14:30 to 19:00.
Date: 14:30-19:00, Saturday, 8th of December Place: Global Village Community Center, 2F VENUE MAP
Appropriate technology is a course conducted among students of Human Biology Program (HBP) and Frontier Medical Science as part of their curriculum.The Demo Day will be a venue to present their output prototypes to the public. Students will demonstrate how to use their technologies and present the sustainable business model based on their product.
This year, students of HBP and Frontier Medical Science engaged in the field work in Vanuatu (a country in South Pacific Ocean), and Nagano in Japan. They faced various difficulties which these places have had and seek to solve. Throughout the Appropriate Technology course, students have developed their own ideas and built some prototypes from it. We wish many of you would be interested to see their outputs and participate in their talks and discussions.
This November 16, Lee Lab (Headed by Prof. SeungHee Lee) joined the class and thought about Kansei Approach in product design. Students demonstrated their current product concept and Lee Lab members collaborated in improving their prototypes.
Kansei approach considers the emotion and interaction of the user with the product. Students integrated what they have learned from the workshop in modifying their prototype design. Now, Lee lab members joins students develop their projects.
We are exploring some options regarding the class information management system. This website will serve as a repository for class related materials. Class handouts could be downloaded at About AppTech section.
This summer vacation, students have organized they field research. Based on their topics of interests and preliminary research they have independent coordinated with the receiving local communities in order to conduct their fieldwork.
Local Destination: Nagano Prefecture
Demonstration of how traps work
Hunters captured a wild boar
Knowing the hunters’ situation
Thinking of strategies to protect the crops
Discussed with farmers about crop damage from wild animals
Students enjoyed wild animal meat
Examining leather from wild animals
Communicated with local shops owner
International Destination: Vanuatu (Southern Pacific Ocean)
Walking around Port Villa
Visited the University of South Pacific
Meeting with Prof. Kotra
A glimpse on a Vanuatu kitchen
Talking with students from elementary school
Playing with the school kids
Discussing with tribe chieftain about the issues they face
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