Meaningful engagement with appropriate technology (meat): A study on unravelling the dynamics of human-technology relations

Abstract

The proposed study seeks to revisit the significance of meaningful engagement with artifacts by critiquing postphenomenology in the philosophy of technology. Postphenomenological thinkers like Don Ihde and Peter-Paul Verbeek argue that there is no universal way of interacting with artifacts, as each human has a unique relationship with specific technologies. However, I contend that this view makes it difficult to identify which interactions can be considered meaningful, as not all technologies foster such engagement. In response, the study seeks to generalize humans (capital H) to understand which types of technologies promote meaningful engagement. Building on this premise, it demonstrates that low-tech artifacts, in contrast to high-tech ones, facilitate deeper engagement due to their increased transparency, ease of repair, and maintenance. In the context of low-tech, the study takes up the phenomenon of Jugaad, defined as a non-standard form of engagement in contrast to the standard engagement typically designed by experts. Further, it explores how humans can have meaningful engagement with technologies that creates a stronger sense of attachment, warmth, and long-term relationships with the product, drawing on the philosophies of Albert Borgmann and Gandhi. By examining the conceptual parallels between these thinkers, the study develops the concept of MEAT (Meaningful Engagement with Appropriate Technology). MEAT is illustrated through the example of the Charkha, an artifact that promotes meaningful engagement while addressing socio-economic, ecological, and intrinsic values. The thesis concludes by asserting that artifacts designed with these concerns in mind can sustain meaningful and authentic user engagement.