Towards New Criteria:

The organizations involved in technology transfer have unique methods. Their ideology or interests influence their methods. I have not studied their methods in detail, and do not intend to filter a criteria based on their methods.

I recognize that technology transfer is a complex task. It is like introducing a foreign species into an ecosystem. Avoiding the past shortcomings is necessary for selection and transfer of technology. However, selection and transfer is proceeded by a fundamental step: "the definition of social goals"[SUSAN 71], or determining the preferred quality of life.

The quality of life is a measure of the human condition. The UN uses life expectancy at birth, adult literacy rate, and real GDP per capita and other such indicators to measure the quality of life. Informally, the quality of life is perceived as the percentage of people who own television, cars, and other goods, the amount of industry in a country, and how open the economy is to outside business. Quality of life cannot be measured precisely. But, communities have "basic human needs"[KELVIN 147], and in incorporating them I outline a preferred quality that I feel can be satisfactory to an ordinary man. I recognize that such an outline is subjective. Still, the preferred quality of life can be used as the stage of development toward which any technology should aim to achieve.

An individual's quality of life must be considered on a personal and community level. A person needs access to adequate healthy food, and clothing which is economical, culturally sensitive, and in accordance with weather. He or she needs a home that provides insulation from extreme weather, circulates clean air, and has access to clean water. A person needs primary education, and meaningful work. Mobility, at least within the national borders, and variety of leisure activities should also be available to the individual.

Security, transportation, recycling and waste management, and a sanitary system must be coordinated and delivered at a community level. Also, access to high quality health care, access to the natural environment, and adequate participation in government must be ensured for all members of a community. The environment of the community must be sustained and clean. Moreover, the community should facilitate the highest intellectual, scientific, spiritual, artistic, and exploration activities.

Contrary to the popular notion, I believe only health care, space exploration, and learning are the important avenues where we should strive for continuous growth. For avenues such as food production, transportation, recycling and waste management we should seek for optimum solutions based on specific social goals.

After determining the preferred quality of life, Susan George suggests the following steps for a community to take:[GEORGE 86]