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Week 7 [14.05-20.05.2018] To design better tech, understand context

Advanced tech in third-world countries

 What good is a sophisticated piece of medical equipment to people in Africa if it can't handle the climate there? Biomedical engineer Tania Douglas  shares strories of how people are blind for a real needs of people in Africa. She speaks about problems and solutions that were invented by talented young people.




  1. What do you think about solutions mentioned in the video ?
  2. Do you think that is the real problem of modern world?
  3. Why people from Africa mentioned in the video wouldn't admit theirs illnesses ? 

Comments

Unknown said…
Solutions presented in the video is state of the art. You solve problems by looking at them at different angle and that is what differ a regular linear engineer from geniuses.
It depends on the point of view actually. Watch some youtube vidoe resently where some tribe live on the island and attempt to kill everyone who tries to contact them. They don't have any modern tech and there level of life not high for sure. Are they a problem for modern world? I don't think so.
Jakub Lisicki said…
I think that the solutions shown in the video are indeed an attempt of designing with empathy instead of designing purely in terms of functionality. They are the solutions to the problems which some of the regions on the earth face and don't have an opportunity to deal with (at least for now.)
I think it's a real problem, but it isn't the most important issue of the modern world. We try to make the world better, but we also need to know that our solutions wouldn't always be suitable for everyone. That's why I find this video valuable, it kind of opened my eyes to the issues I didn't previously think of.
I don't think it only applies to African people - it applies to most of us. We live in the society where people are afraid to admit of their imperfections or problems. There are so many people out there who are completely deprived of compassion, that we are too afraid to be ourselves.
Jakub Nietupski said…
Solutions mentioned in the video were very ingenious, it takes a lot of empathy and creativity to come up with solutions that take into account not only environmental requirements but also people's feelings and expectations.
It is the real problem of modern world that we try to create solutions that will cover the needs of the biggest target possible, but then a few people that need inventions to be tailored for their special needs are left alone.
People can be ashamed that they are not as healthy as they wish to be and that hinders them from admitting that they need help.
Unknown said…
1. I consider presented solutions as valuable, simple and even ingenious. They are developed by people who did really understand the problem and prepared products tailor-made for patients.
2. I would not say it is the biggest problem of modern world, but still it is significant. Companies nowadays follow “one fits all” rule and often don’t take into account different needs of their client groups.
3. People generally don’t want to admit their illnesses as they are afraid of social marginalization because of their frailties
Unknown said…

I think that is normal thing. When we want to make a solutions for special place we have to know how people in this part of the world are living. People working in projects of aps or other systems are always doing some research on what conditions it will work. This solutions are good but adequate to the conditions. It's nothing brilliant.
In my opinion people from Africa wouldn't admit theirs illnesses because theh are following in the pursuit of modernity. They don't want to be worse than others.
Unknown said…
The solutions which were mentioned in the video are great and very creative. The most I like in it that thay are focused on how to help people and how suits to real persons nead. And not on how to ear money on it.

I believe yes. In the majority of cases, developers or IT specialist is not really understood needs of their customers and customers not really possible to describe what they need. As result a lot of great efforts resulting in nothing. So as for me understanding the context of problems and deep diving into the area and root causes of this problems before the beginning of developing/engineering work, seams like a very important topic.

I believe that people from Africa don’t admit their illnesses because they I friend to look not as healthy as they want. Or because they are frightened to be ashamed by the society.
You're right it is about solving problem in the different way. The point of her speech was to do not "overtech" in underdeveloped countries where people do not have resources and climate is to harsh for this equipment to work properly. I think I've heard once about this tribe, could you mention the name of this tribe?
That was the point of this video :) I am happy that you mentioned "opening you eyes" it is all about that. We are young people the future of this planet. That's why we should realize problems which are not obvious. I think the problem of denial and lack of empathy is the real modern world problem ( maybe not the most important but still...)
I am impressed about some of the solutions they came up with, it is valuable for young people to understand problems and to "Make a world better place" indeed :)
Yes I think marginalization is the problem here , especially in underdeveloped countries where people just have to work to survive.
Maybe , im not sure. I think that, the statement advanced tech mentioned in this video that can't handle climate , must be based on truth. I think it was or it is still a serious problem when modern world countries are "helping" those who need it.
I think they do not want to admit theirs weaknesses because they are afraid of the community, they don't want to be excluded from it.
Yes this is is a very important problem, as you mentioned this is crucial even for developers in modern countries. It is essencial to know the problem and try to solve is in the best way with the lowest cost as possible. You're right they do not want to admit theirs weknesses I hope this would change one day.
Whats mentioned in the video are just band aids to the real problem. We as "Heroes/Saviors of Africa" helped destroy it. By providing "free" supplies of common things such as shoes, clothes, evens in some cases food we have destroyed Africa's economy completely. None of the local cloth manufacturers can survive if they dont need clothes, or they can replace them instead of repairing. What we should do is stop "helping" Africa, and start only educating it and providing opportunities.
Why would u as such question its right in the video because of the most stupid thing in the world created by communities - a stigma attached to it. Why young kids dont want to wear braces ? Why they are getting bullied for wearing glasses? its all because others who dont need such help to live think are better and entitled themselves to rub it in their faces.
Illia Lukisha said…
What do you think about solutions mentioned in the video ?
I think it's a great example of user experience design. When pepole really understand the root the root of the problem, and design with thet in mind.
Do you think that is the real problem of modern world?
I think that people from developed countries, need not just to blindly help Africa, and provide something that people really need, and not what we think thay need.
Why people from Africa mentioned in the video wouldn't admit theirs illnesses ?
Because from our perspective it is a problem, but no one asked is that a problem for people with illness.
Cecylia said…
I think that this solution is logic and good because they are working for their local problems and not waiting for the richest countries to find some solutions . With this they show that they are independent and educated like others . I think that the modern world should stop wasting money on to sending stuff to Africa . They should work alone for their country . I don’t know why people from Africa mentioned in the video wouldn’t admit their illnesses like it was a taboo subject . I really cannot answer because I have no idea about this topic. Maybe because they don’t want to show that they are sick which can mean to them that they are bad .

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