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Talk at Open Source Hardware User Group
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The Needs of OthersAl Razi Masri
@jumplogicwww.jumplogic.co.uk
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Talk Outline● A bit on terminology● Delivering Technology● Appropriate Instructions● Open Documentation
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TerminologyOpen Source Appropriate Technology
What does this mean?
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TerminologyTechnology
Noun:● The application of scientific knowledge for
practical purposes, esp. in industry: "computer technology"; "recycling technologies"
● Machinery and equipment developed from such scientific knowledge
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Terminology Appropriate Technology
Noun:● A flexible and participatory approach to
developing economically viable, regionally applicable and sustainable technology
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For our purposesDefine by goals:
● Targeted at those in poverty● Free to use and modify ● Environmentally, economically, locally sustainable● Sensitive to the needs of the users and local
conditions● Leads to increased income or substantially better
quality of life● Does NOT harm
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Translating to Physical ObjectsFeatures of code:
● Embodied knowledge● Copy and pasting
Features of electronics:● Abstracted diagrams● Build sequence and physical form largely irrelevant
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Delivering Technology● The technology is a means to an end. Not the
end● It takes a lot to get a good invention/idea adopted ● For illiterate populations unreached by mass
media, flyers, brochures, or radio campaigns do not work
● Even then people often like what they are used to● Goal is achieving success as opposed to nominal
functionality
http://blog.paulpolak.com/?p=1111
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Scalable Documentation● Conveying an invention to a single small group is
very different from a large number of large groups ● Needs of each group very different ● All important parts of the delivery chain ● Documents need to meet the needs of each part
of the delivery chain, or at the very least a large chunk of it so that only small segments require extra effort
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Priorities● Can we make a set of instructions suitable for all? ● If not how much can we cover in one step? ● ...and in how few steps can we cover all of the
important stuff?
…............................I'm still figuring this out
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Who uses Instructions?● Different from users of the invention, such as:
➔ Teachers➔ Developers➔ Implementers (builders & maintainers)
● NGO & governmental involvement spans across these three roles
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What are their needs?RESOURCES
HIGH MEDIUM LOW NONE
TEACH
Expert Presenter Trained Presenter Novice presenter
A VERY FREQUENT OCCURENCE
Video Slideshow Posters/OHP
Info Pack Take away booklet Single Reference Booklet
Example Build Protoype/model build Premade model
BUIILD
Website
Infopack Booklet/printout Borrowed photocopy
Expert help (private) Course Second-hand advice
Video Slideshow
CAD model & Schematics Simple Diagrams Sketches
DEVELOP
Source material Compiled material
CAD Model & Schematics
Experience of product Second hand experience Viewed
Multiple builds Few builds One Build
Tech Data Estimations Guesses
Many examples/variants Few Examples/variants One Example
AC
TIV
ITY
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Who makes these instructions?● Right now it's whoever
BUT …..
Many inventors➔ Lack Graphic Design skills➔ Lack CAD skills➔ Are too busy inventing or engaged with other projects➔ Gave up
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Example 1: Warwick University● Called “Technical Release”● Issues:
➔ All in PDFs➔ Hidden in the depth of their website➔ No source material➔ No declaration of license➔ Internal network…....BUT
● Will mail instruction to people in developing countries on request
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Example 2: Made in Kenya● Ikea Style documents● Made by industrial design students● Issues:
➔ No words➔ Are the diagrams comprehensible?
http://www.notechmagazine.com/2011/11/when-low-tech-goes-ikea.html
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Example 3: Appropedia.org● Wiki hosting a range of technologies● Issues:
➔ Many articles incomplete➔ Crowd sourced content, but are the crowds on their
way?➔ Photos and Hyperlinks➔ Reliant on other formats
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What do the Documentors Need?● EVERYTHING!
➔ All of the source material➔ Pre-compiled file formats➔ Compiled files for comparison➔ Fonts and similar (best avoided but not always possible)➔ A way to track revisions
TRANSLATORS - Text kept separate from everything
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Video● Multiple resolution and aspect Ratio● No overlays● No Presenter (Value of the presenter?
Complicates modification)● Narrators (how to make multiple voices feel
normal)● Source Material● Padding and filler (different languages take
different times to say the same thing)
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Video Source Materials● Editing Suite files● Animations (has own source material)● Unedited Footage● Audio● Music● Transcripts & Subtitle Footage● Time Data (unedited video cuts and activities, edited
video cut and activities, and transcript)● Still images
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Other Issues
All comes down to remembering who are the most important people in the whole picture
Assumed Knowledge
Schematical Comprehension
Unfamiliar Priorities
Varying Standards
