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Design That Solves Problems for the World's Poor »

Posted by: _kam0_ 2 years, 6 months ago

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"A billion customers in the world," Dr. Paul Polak told a crowd of inventors recently, "are waiting for a $2 pair of eyeglasses, a $10 solar lantern and a $100 house." The world's cleverest designers cater to the globe's richest 10%, creating wine labels, couture and Maseratis. We need a revolution to reverse that silly ratio.

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_kam0_

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Comments: 5

Avg rating: (+6/-0 6)
crespi
May 31, 2007, 1:15 p.m.
That would be nice. Except every time one of these folks come up with something good for people and start producing and selling it, Big Business will take it over and either ruin the product and render in ineffective, or withhold it from the world completely.
Not to be depressing about it...
*OFF TOPIC ALERT*
Impeach.
Avg rating: (+8/-3 5)
koranagirl
May 31, 2007, 1:52 p.m.
What an absolutely wonderful and thoughtful article! I hope that more scientists and engineers will consider doing some design work for the billions of people living on $5 or less per day (that's what the average person around the world lives on). I do believe that the world has already been given enough resources to provide basic medical care, housing, clean water, textbooks for schools, etc., it's just that we have not learned to stop hoarding and being fearful of poverty ourselves. For a great book on peace and love and sharing, see "korana of mother goddess" available at amazon dot com, LuLu dot com or on ebay. peace and blessings to everyone today.
Avg rating: (+6/-0 6)
GWHayduke
May 31, 2007, 3:29 p.m.
C.K. Prahalad has written an excellent book on this topic called:
"The Fortune at the Bottom of The Pyramid".
Innovative and insightful read.
Avg rating: (+10/-2 8)
Rinty
May 31, 2007, 9:39 p.m.
Thanks kam0. Great story.