APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES RESEARCH
The work of Dr Mike Clifford of the University of Nottingham's School of Mechanical Materials and Manufacturing Engineering and his students, highlights the ability for students to initiate real change in the lives of Africans.
Appropriate Technologies must meet the following criteria:
- It must enable people to further their own standards of living.
- It must use local skills and materials as much as possible.
- It is affordable for the people for whom it is intended.
- It can be improved, managed and controlled by local people.
- It has a limited impact on the environment.
Engaging with the practical challenges that the people of Africa face, and thinking about them practically, has led to several potential inventions that will help make lives easier.
A great example of this is a Bag Sealer:
The Problem
Food Storage in developing countries is obviously very important as without safe and reliable methods, standards of hygiene can be low. Many people in the developing world now have access to plastic bags, and are using them for storing food and packaging products. Current methods used can be very dangerous with many people using a candle and knife. After the contents are put in the bag, the bag is folded over the knife edge, the knife edge is run over a naked flame and the heat from the flame melts the two walls of plastic together, thus sealing it. This is a fire hazard, slow and provides a poor seal.
The Solution
Dr Clifford and his students have come up with a far safer alternative. The candles are placed inside a wooden box and a simple heat shield is made from a soft drinks can. The bags can then be sealed easily using a clamping device. A prototype has produced water-tight seals without the operator coming into contact with the hot plastic.