Fair Trade Technology – Tech that Helps the World

Lee Felsenstein, co-founderFonly Institute2460 Park Blvd. #1Palo Alto, CA 94306

lee@fonlyinstitute.com

Farming community unable to feed itself reliablyHigh degree of social cohesion

Taxed selves to improve schoolRelocated from Plain of Jars (US bombing)Resettled in unpopulated valley 85 km from

VientianeAll adults employed, children all in school and

helpingBad 4 km road from hwy. 13, impassable in

monsoonNo desire to leave for Vientiane

Lessons from Phon Kham - 1

Textiles sell for high prices in Japan and westPrices offered by middlemen are minimalLaotians overseas need textiles for weddings

Produce prices are low no way to check competitive prices

Overseas village members led Jhai Foundation to

villageVillagers requested telephone capability

Lessons from Phon Kham - 2

Villagers have requested Jhai’s help with communications to improve economic and social conditions

• Voice – Trading among five villages– Getting good prices at market

towns– Talking with family and friends

(like Jhai) overseas for connection, business and remittances

• Data(Internet)– Fun and training for students– Accounting and recordkeeping– Telemedicine

Migration to Cities

Not drawn by opportunity but driven by necessity

Disease, prostitution, crime

Political instability

Disconnection from traditional culture

-

+INbOUT

INa

(INa - INb)* 100,000 = OUT

OUT

(INa - INb)

OP AMP without feedback – an electronic tantrum

Environment as critical element

*slam!*

*slam!*

-

+INOUT

(OUT = IN)

OP AMP with unity feedback – a useful component

Environment as critical element

Convergence - Divergence

Stable systems display diminishing response to disturbance

Unstable systems show increasing

response Until something breaks

failuredisturbance disturbanc

e

Free Trade vs. Fair Trade

“Free trade” – rule of the strongestNo regard for consequences - “externalities” Economic advantage trumps all other

considerationsResulting in destruction of agriculture in developing

countriesFarmers are resources to be mined and discarded

Fair Trade – takes human interactions into accountSustainable agricultural economyLow prices come at a cost

Farmer is participant in market economyFull access to market information

Migration by necessity is destabilizing to society

Necessary change involves: Improvement of rural incomes Reduction of cultural isolation Improvement of opportunities to youngTelecommunications are essential factor

Fair Trade Technologies - principles

Embedded ProcessorsOpen Source SoftwareVOIPWireless Connectivity - 802.11

Enabling Technologies

Village-based system, capable of operation by children

Telecommunication Local Internet 10 year longevity minimum Localized General computer capabilities Web browsing Word Processing Spreadsheet Printing

System Requirements

The Jhai Communications System

802.11b Wireless network Linkage among villages Data and VOIP to Internet

Internet telephony Linkage to phone system via Open.323

POTS calls PABX functionality

Expatriates (“expats”) crucial to distribution

Can aggregate cost of village systemKnow the village and the playersWill maintain contact Need closer cultural contact

Children lack knowledge of languageWritten languageStories and lore

Can provide commercial

opportunities

Expats – the key to the solution

Brings farmers into market economy as participants

Strengthens connections between community members

and expats

Allows expats to assist community economically

Allows expat families to participate in community life

Allows access to world culture and information

Telemedicine

Agricultural information

Education

Effects of Fair Trade Technology

Rugged design and construction Long lifespan – software and hardware Localized – numeric control Power supply applicable to other needs Operable by schoolchildren Minimal consumables – low cost of

operation Assistance through Internet Ease of repair

System Requirements

This is an industry in formation Huge market if costs are low Many global social benefits Direct economic benefit to participants Change in market structure and change in

product design is not historically made by

existing industry It'll be fun

Future Prospects