Technological solution for vulnerable communities: How does its approach matter?

2014 International Conference on Manufacturing, Optimization, Industrial and Material Engineering

Sianipar, C.P.M.^1,2 ; Dowaki, K.^2 ; Yudoko, G.^1

School of Business and Management (SBM), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Jl. Ganeca 10, Bandung, West Java 40132, Indonesia^1

Department of Industrial Administration (IA), Tokyo University of Science (TUS), 2641 Yamazaki, Noda-shi, Chiba-ken 278-8510, Japan^2

关键词: Community development;    Community empowerments;    Complex characteristics;    Developed countries;    Northern Hemispheres;    Scientific community;    Technological solution;    Vulnerable communities;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/58/1/012022/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1757-899X/58/1/012022

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

Vulnerability is an emerging term for both scientific communities and practitioners. Vulnerabilities attributed to a particular community are then aggregated to state it as a vulnerable community. Vulnerability-related study is recognized as an interdisciplinary one due to the complex characteristics of vulnerabilities in each contextual situation. In common understandings, technology is recognized as an interdisciplinary solution, making it possible for supporting any activity in eradicating vulnerability. This study aims to observe such possibilities. Literature survey is taken to investigate the interconnection between vulnerability eradication and technology. Brief comparison between several developing countries and particular focus on Indonesia become a medium of further investigation to reveal issues surrounding technology-related efforts for vulnerability eradication in vulnerable communities. The study reveals that developing countries, particularly Indonesia, tend to adopt approaches from Northern hemisphere, including transferring technologies from developed countries without proper propagation. It means that local knowledge and power are largely ignored in the pursuit of local problem solving for vulnerability eradication. These facts become a signpost to emphasize that approach in implementing technological solution for such purpose is the critical mechanism to ensure the success in every contextual situation. Then, looking at the results of this brief study, its emphasis indicates further requirements to shift the paradigm of typical community development to contextual community empowerment in order to ensure the continuity of every technological solution for a consistent eradication of local vulnerabilities, including possible changes of required approach alongside the shift.