Htoo Wai Htet
Union College
Project
Jugaard Innovation: Making Technological Empowerment Affordable
Switzerland, United Kingdom, India, Indonesia, Japan
Western design processes have optimized technological efficiency rather than affordability, often resulting in large-scale and expensive products targeted for the richest 10%, rather than small-scale inexpensive solutions for the remaining 90. During my Watson Year, I will investigate the gap between advancement and affordability of technology and how innovative design processes depend on governmental and cultural contexts in countries that are at the two extremes of the technological spectrum. In each developed country (Switzerland, England, and Japan) I will engage and learn from design teams at start-up companies, university researchers, and innovators at community hackerspaces. In each developing country (Kenya, India, and Indonesia), I will work closely with teams from social enterprises and distributors developing products that empower local communities. Engaging with the end users of the products, and learning about each team’s business models, design processes, and marketing strategies, I will deepen my understanding of cultural influences on design process. I will use my insight into how technological empowerment can be made affordable to improve people’s livelihood in Myanmar and other developing communities.