Filed under: Final

CCDN271 Assignment 1 - Critique a Source

Over one quarter, about 1.6 billion, of the people in the world have no access to electricity (A. Shah, 2010), refrigeration or stored fuels (TED2007, 2007). This is a major problem in developing nations. With no access to refrigeration it is very difficult to halt the spread of disease. Vaccines can't be stored for long periods of time without the use of a fridge, and food can spoil in a matter of days. This is why the lack of refrigeration is one of the biggest contributing factors in third world poverty. 

 

In 2006, with this problem growing rapidly, Adam Grosser and a team from Stanford University decided to attempt to create a low cost solution. By using an idea first originated by Ferdinand Carre in 1858 (TED2007, 2007), they began testing the use of thermodynamics to power a fridge. By heating up and cooling down a water/ammonia based substance, a strong refrigeration effect can be achieved without the use of electricity. 

 

This project is a good example of my topic, Design for the Other 90%. Adam and his team have specifically designed this project with third world nations in mind. Although it can used by anyone, its primary function is to help people who don't have access to electricity. One reason for this is the low cost of the prototype. Adam, in his TED talk, says that the product can be made for “$21USD in high volumes” (TED2007, 2007). This is a cost efficient method for organisations such as UNICEF and Red Cross to distribute his product to third world countries. Adam has also specifically designed his product to use the heat of a fire, “...be it camel dung or wood” (TED2007, 2007). This is another way that he has tailored his product to help keep medicine and food cold in regions without electricity. 

 

The project does have some flaws, however. The fridge is powered through a routine of heating and cooling. 30 minutes of heating on a fire and 60 minutes of cooling will grant 24 hours of refrigeration. This means that the routine has to be adhered to everyday. It is not a very large flaw in the design and perhaps looking into making the fridge self sustainable would be an advantage. This would mean it doesn't have to rely on constant daily attention in order to be used. Another disadvantage is that the fridge will only work on “a fifteen litre vessel” (TED2007, 2007). This might be large enough to hold a family's medicine and food but at $21USD a fridge, it is not financially viable to get refrigeration for a village, let alone 1.6 billion people. The cooling effect needs to be increased so it can cool a larger vessel for a similar cost. 

 

This project by Adam Grosser and Stanford University is a great example of how people are designing with third world countries in mind. I feel he has taken a fantastic idea and created a useable prototype. Like any prototype, there are issues that could be improved and enhanced to suit the needs of his target market, namely the people living in regions with no access to electricity. By revisiting the core design and addressing the problems, I feel that the project will be a success.

 

 

 

Shah, A. (2010, September, 20). Poverty Facts and Stats [Webpage]. Retrieved 2012, March, 22 from http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats 

 

TED2007. (2007, February). Adam Grosser and his sustainable fridge [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/adam_grosser_and_his_sustainable_fridge.html