Innovations inspired by third-world needs

Most of the Pop!Tech talks are very good, but I just heard the one about good designs for solutions to poverty by Paul Polack that spoke directly to me; it's funny, because he started speaking slowly, with long pauses, so I felt this would be boring... but I ended up being electrified.

Here are some of his slides:

Finding Simple Solutions to Big Problems

• Go to where the action is.
• Talk to the people who have the problem - listen to what they have to say.
• Learn everything there is to know about the specific context.

The "Don't Bother" Trilogy

• If you haven't had conversations with at least 25 poor people before you start...
• If it won't pay for itself in the first year...
• If you can't sell at least a million of them...

... Don't Bother!

Three Key Features of the Design Revolution "that's needed"

• Affordability
• Divisibility
• ("infinite") Expandability

Three Great Poverty Eradication Myths

• We can donate people out of poverty (donations are important in emergencies, but people must lift themselves out)
  
• We can end poverty through national economic growth (despite what some economists say)
• Multinationals as they are now will end poverty
  

Although these lists are interesting, they're just reminders about his high points; you really should listen to hear some of his anecdotes and connections in the modern world. At 2:20 before the end, he explains a very cool product that takes a battery, a pinch of salt, and a thimbleful of water to sterilize a liter of water in 90 seconds. Awesome. Plus he's got a business model to spread it. Then he leaves me on the edge of my seat by mentioning a $15 information device.

BTW, I also enjoyed his website: PaulPollack.com. For example, read his "Ant Arithmetic" on the "Revolutionary Designs" page. This is someone generating good work and fascinating ideas!