The brief report today on a $3 water purifier — a straw that hangs around
the neck and purportedly lasts for a year — is a reminder of the potential for small, ultra-inexpensive tools to transform material life for the African poor. I’m not sure there have been any true breakthroughs yet, though if this example holds up in the field, it will qualify. Tiny cheap tools, designed for ordinary Africans, is a space
worth watching. Prices need to fall below $5 and acceptance will likely come
first in the rugged environs of India and China.
Oct 10 2006