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Assessment of Technology in the View of Sustainability and Capability Approach: A Case-study of Home Inverters

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Driving the Economy through Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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Abstract

This chapter presents a methodology to assess technology in view of sustainability. As a designer/policymaker, it is crucial to have an informed perception on any technology/product meant for society. In successfully designing and strategizing a technology/product for a given market, it is crucial to assess relevant societal, environmental, and economic impacts. Simply put, sustainability in view of any technology would gauge the health of the system (society) with and without that technology. However, the societal, environmental, and economic implications are intertwined and require a systems approach to tackle. Recognizing the fact that the human dimension is central in the introduction/adoption of any technology, the capability approach aims to further integrate human capabilities with technology interventions for sustainability. A methodology, with a working case study of home inverters, to evaluate a technology/product in view of sustainability has been proposed, discussed, and presented in this chapter.

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Acknowledgement

This chapter is primarily an outcome of a project undertaken as part of the course on Technology and Sustainable Development offered at the Indian Institute of Science. Integrating the capability approach dimension has been made possible as part of a research grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) for the project “Technology and Human Development – A Capability Approach.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India

    Pramod Khadilkar

  2. Centre for Sustainable Technologies and Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India

    Monto Mani

Authors
  1. Pramod Khadilkar
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  2. Monto Mani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Monto Mani .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560 012, Karnataka, India

    Chiranjit Mukhopadhyay

  2. , Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Gulmohar Marg, Mathikere, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India

    K B Akhilesh

  3. , Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Gulmohar Marg, Near-Centre For Neroscience,Mathikere, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India

    R. Srinivasan

  4. , Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Gulmohar Marg, Near-Centre For Neroscience,Mathikere, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India

    Anjula Gurtoo

  5. , Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Gulmohar Marg, Mathikere,, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India

    Parthasarathy Ramachandran

  6. , Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Gulmohar Marg, Mathikere, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India

    Parameshwar P Iyer

  7. , Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Gulmohar Marg, Mathikere, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India

    M Mathirajan

  8. , Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Gulmohar Marg, Mathikere, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India

    M H Bala Subrahmanya

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Khadilkar, P., Mani, M. (2013). Assessment of Technology in the View of Sustainability and Capability Approach: A Case-study of Home Inverters. In: Mukhopadhyay, C., et al. Driving the Economy through Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Springer, India. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0746-7_6

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