INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: DIFFUSION AND APPLICATION OF ICT
Chapter 2
2.3. Perspectives of Information Technologies Development
2.3.4. Ethnic Knowledge and Modern Technologies
In a nations' progress for sustainable development of intellectual potential, ethnic knowledge plays an important role and often becomes the stimulus for scientific research and innovation.
Numerous historical facts and local knowledge, particularly in the fields of medicine, traditional agriculture and food processing, settlement organization, dwelling construction and household management have been preserved up to today. In Azerbaijan, since ancient times, knowledge has been applied to mobilize natural resources and cultural heritage which, if combined with modern technologies, could further strengthen the sustainability of the human development process and the transition to a new level of civilization, based on traditional ecological principles ("ecocivil").
Use of ethnic knowledge can stimulate the production of traditional Azerbaijani products, which are capable of finding their place in the world market. These products may be agricultural or industrial goods. Along with the sustainable production of products and goods, the approach to combine ethnic knowledge with modern technologies also supports ecologically justified management of waste products. This approach is fully in line with the requirements to build up environmentally sound economic activity, capable of meeting the task of establishing human settlements and mode of life, relative to the needs of the 21st century. The combination of traditional ethnic knowledge with new scientific ideas and results obtained has begun to play an important role in the production and utilization of medicines, foodstuffs and food additives which decrease the risk of cardiovascular, cancer and other diseases. The increasing average life span in the world and the change of the age structure of the population make this field of traditional and modern knowledge extremely important. These principles underline some of the elements of policy recommendations for the utilization of modern technologies for sustainable and human development in country.
The Union of Inventors of Azerbaijan (UIAZ), which emphasizes the use of traditional knowledge in medicine, has developed a model of mini clinics, aimed at implementation on a countrywide scale. Requiring only three staff members, such clinics can provide primary diagnostics and medical treatment for up to 6,000 people per year. The spectrum of activity of these mini clinics covers 11 branches of medicine. The work of such mini clinics involves a wide use of thermal-puncture practices (childag), which have been developed by UIAZ.
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