Don Ihde and the Challenge of Technology Transfer

Abstract

This paper investigates an example of cross-cultural technology transfer as conceived by Don Ihde, a widely esteemed philosopher of technology. Ihde presents a definition of technology and an example of inter-cultural technology transfer. Ihde’s example concerns technology transfer from Western culture to the New Guinea Highlanders. White colonists left behind used sardine can lids. The lids were then discovered and used as a form of headdress ornamentation by the native Highlanders. Ihde claims that this example constitutes a transfer of technology. Ihde’s example does not support his theory. The claim of this paper is that, while Ihde’s sardine can lid example fails, according to his definition of technology, it is still useful in adjudicating technology transfer generally. To help illuminate Ihde’s theory of technology transfer, a contemporary example of alleged “misuse” of transferred technology, regarding Zimbabweans and female condoms, is examined.