ABSTRACT
E. Schuurman's taxonomy brings helpful precision and semantic consistency to the task of explicating the scope of technology. The concept of Appropriate Technology was first synthesized by the British economist E. F. Schumacher, drawing upon important foundations laid by S. I. Gandhi and others. The concept of appropriate technology was viewed as being the technology mix contributing most to economic, social and environmental objectives, in relation to resource endowments and conditions of application in each country. Appropriate technology was stressed as being a dynamic and flexible concept which must be responsive to varying conditions and changing situations in different countries. Technology is not static and many different technologies have been developed and superseded in a variety of times and places. The theory, policy and implementation of Appropriate Technology would be enhanced by employing only the general-principles approach for general definitions and by restricting the use of a specific-characteristics definition to specific contexts for which the circumstances have been clearly defined.
