The Gadget. The Gizmo. The Poor Man’s iPod. The SOS audio player. Our basic technology platform is known by many names, and that’s just fine with us. We could not do what we do without the MT4 players, yet it is not ultimately what we do. Perhaps a word of explanation is order.
Technology is always changing. Ask anyone who paid $5000 for a 486 computer, or the once proud owner of a Sega Genesis. This morning’s hot item will be in this afternoon’s garage sale. Technology is the last piece of the puzzle in our work. We have embraced the technology we use for strictly utilitarian reasons: it does what we want it to do in a way that is consistent with certain principles we hold dear. The principles are the hill we will die on, not the technology.
This attitude toward technology is very liberating. We can pick and choose from off the shelf components. We can have the latest technology without sinking ministry dollars in research and development. We can custom fit the technology we use for each situation. We do not have to sell you our stuff because, well, we have no stuff. Therefore, as long as the technology is affordable, solar-powered, rechargeable and durable, we are good to go. As we said, it’s the principles that matter, not the technology.
With that being said, please understand that we are not techno-idiots. We do understand how to fit various pieces together in a way that gets the best results. We have been asked for a “price quote” only to be told, “We’re thinking about buying this ourselves directly from the manufacturer.” Go for it. As an organization, we spent years touring plants and manufacturing facilities in Asia looking for, not just the best technology, but reputable people with whom we can do business. If you want to buy your stuff off the Internet and wire money to Asia on your own, more power to you. Good luck and God bless you. We think you will call us later asking, “Why won’t our technology work?” Just because it is easily gotten doesn’t mean it is easily employed.
What are the principles? To begin with, we work among the poorest of the poor. The majority are not computer-literate, and they are not Internet savvy. Therefore, the technology must be user friendly. A complicated, literate-based display panel on an MP3 player is not very practical for the work we do. One of the tried and true principles of orality is that oral learners do so in communal settings . Keep your ear buds; give us water-resistant speaker cases that are loud enough for 10-12 people to listen together. The message must remain consistent and be indigenously produced. We use SD cards with digital recorders and laptop computers as recording studios. This allows us to produce a consistent message that can be heard repeatedly. The message is produced in country by leaders who know and live among the folks we are trying to reach. Microcasting at its’ blessed easiest. Cost effective, easy to use, plays well with others (group oriented), and produced in-country. These are the principles that influence the technology we use in an ever-changing technology market.
At the present moment, our basic technology package consists of five components: a waterproof speaker case, a solar powered battery charger, rechargeable batteries, multiple SD cards and an MP3 player.
