Leapfrog Technology and How It Applies to Trackless Tram

Abstract

Rapid innovation and development of modern technology has brought about the opportunity for developing economies to technologically leapfrog. The s mart phone is the most recent example. This paper asses ses literature to show what technological leapfrogging is and the key criteria used to en able it to occur in developing countries. These include being “economical enough”, “less technical”, “lends itself to partnership”, “lends itself to community engagement”, “enables co-development” and “fulfills the sustainable development goals”. The paper then examines the new mid-tier transit technology called Trackless Trams and applies the six criteria to it. The paper suggests that there are five good fits with the criteria and the sixth, the “less technical”, can be accommodated in most developing cities through distributed solar energy s ystems and also smart technology systems through mobile phone-base d communication infrastructure. The case for Trackless Trams to be part of the future in developing cities is therefore strong.