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Standards for technological innovation, Wendell Berry

  • The new tool should be cheaper than the one it replaces.
  • It should be at least as small in scale as the one it replaces.
  • It should do work that is clearly and demonstrably better than the one it replaces.
  • It should use less energy than the one it replaces.
  • If possible, it should use some form of solar energy, such as that of the body.
  • It should be repairable by a person of ordinary intelligence, provided that he or she has the necessary tools.
  • It should be purchasable and repairable as near to home as possible.
  • It should come from a small, privately owned shop or store that will take it back for maintenance and repair.
  • It should not replace or disrupt anything good that already exists, and this includes family and community relationships.

First discovered via Lori Emerson on Mastodon:

https://post.lurk.org/@loriemerson/116336013411907103

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