Six months ago we started the AshokaTECH blog! Ashoka's blog about technology and invention.

And this was our very first post! Ah the memories!

One of my favorite subjects under the technology branch is how the intersection of anthropological research methods, like user studies, and engineering is being used to for social good. Like the work of Ashoka-Lemelson Fellow Pradip Sarmah--he observed two challenges for Rickshaw drivers in Rural India: 1) Rickshaws are typically very heavy, and 2) they are expensive.  He put 1 and 2 together and brought in a team of designers to come up with a light-weight, inexpensive version of the originals.  He even went a step further and created a lending system so that these Rickshaw drivers could own the vehicles and be self-sufficient.  Learn more about Pradip's work here. And if you are hungry for more Design and Social Change stories be sure to visit: Ideo, Design for the other 90%, Engineers without Borders.

I want to take this opportunity to thank The Lemelson Foundation for making this whole effort happen. Thank you!