Welcome to ApproVideo

Engineering for Developing Communities Program
Engineers Without Borders - International
Ecological Building Network
Solar Energy International

Welcome to ApproVideo, a new Video wiki/blog site developed by the Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing Communities (MC-EDC) at the University of Colorado at Boulder. This site provides a collection of already published short videos illustrating a wide range of sustainable and appropriate solutions for developing (and developed) communities worldwide. You will find innovative ideas, tools, cutting edge programs,case studies, and initiatives in the areas of education, health, energy, water, sanitation, etc.

Videos can be downloaded to your video iPod, PC, Mac, using software such as TubeSock 2.0

Started on Dec, 24 2008, Approdocs provides a collection of documents on Sustainable and Appropriate Solutions used in the world today.

Allowed file extensions: gif, png, jpg, txt, htm, html, pdf, doc, xls, ppt, pps, zip, css, mpv2, mp2v, wv and movie. Maximum allowed file size: 9.77 MB.

Disclaimer: EDC is not responsible for the completeness and the accuracy of the information presented on the videos and documents posted on this web site. Further, they do not certify or warrant the credentials, competency, and skill level of those who created the videos and documents.

Contact: amadei@colorado.edu for questions, comments and suggestions.

Here are some basics that you will need to know to successfully navigate the ApproVideo web site. (For step-by-step directions including screen shots, go to instructions)

1. In Version 1.0, there are two blogs open to the public and LISTED AT THE TOP of this web page: "Videos" (Video Collection) and "Projects". The blogs are themselves divided into categories and sub-categories.

2. For each blog, click on the topic (category) of interest on the right-hand panel to filter entries matching your interest. Click on "All" (Categories) to show all published entries in all categories listed under a given blog.

3. Anyone can VIEW existing entries, but to obtain permission to ADD entries, you will need to register. In order to do this, click on "Register" in the "Misc" section of the right-hand column. After registering, you can then login using your username and password.

4. Following login, go to the "Misc" section, update your profile, register for blog notifications and use "Admin" to post entries. All entries are submitted as "draft (Not Published)" and are activated (Published) by the site administrators.

5. Allowed file extensions: gif, png, jpg, txt, htm, html, pdf, doc, xls, ppt, pps, zip, css, mpv2, mp2v, wv and movie. Maximum allowed file size: 9.77 MB

6. All entries must be appropriate to this site and will be reviewed by the site administrators before final posting.

Note that this site is under construction and will be improved over time. Your input and comments are greatly appreciated. We will not share your registration information with anyone.

Appropriate and Sustainable Technology (AST) is critical in responding to the needs of developing communities worldwide. Such technology is usually characterized as being small scale, energy efficient, environmentally sound, and controlled by the local community. It must be simple enough to be maintained by the people using it. Furthermore, it must match the user and the need in complexity and scale and must be designed to foster self-reliance, cooperation, and responsibility (adapted from B. Hazeltine and C. Bull).

Check the two blogs Videos and Projects where you will find a wide range of videos pertaining to AST.