Low technology

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/low-technology

1. What is the related technological paradigm?
2. What is low technology and how is it different from high technology?
3. Why do people still use low-tech tools like hand-cranked generators or simple levers?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the related technological paradigm?Mid-tech represents a balanced approach, integrating low-tech resilience with high-tech efficiency
2. What is low technology and how is it different from high technology?Low technology uses simple, easy-to-use tools made from everyday materials. It is built so people can fix it themselves and doesn't need special machines or electricity. High technology, like smartphones, is more complex and needs advanced parts and power.
3. Why do people still use low-tech tools like hand-cranked generators or simple levers?Low‑tech tools are reliable and can keep working even when power is gone or parts are hard to find. They are easy to fix with local materials and can help people in disasters or far‑away places.

Low Technology: Technological systems and tools characterized by simplicity, ease of understanding, and minimal reliance on advanced scientific knowledge or infrastructure.
High Technology: Advanced technological systems requiring complex scientific principles, intricate manufacturing, and often specialized expertise and infrastructure.
Mid-Tech: A technological approach that balances the efficiency and capabilities of high technology with the autonomy and resilience of low technology.