Cuba Is a Lesson in Technology Survival

By SE Lewinski

HAVANA TIMES – So many images are permanently etched in my mind meandering the streets of Cuba. Of course, not on the polished tourist routes where most visitors venture down. I remember a man in a tattered suit, with an old and worn briefcase walking in the street and stopping to pick up a small metal washer. There is no way this scene could be found in most countries.

However, that washer might have been important for him to fix something. In my Cuban experience, people have no choice but to find a piece of wire, a broken fixture, or whatever, and make use of such items to fix what they have. It is a humbling experience to observe the Cuban people innovating, and being creative to find solutions for their difficult lives. Below I am providing respectful images shared with me or of my own…to express the plight of the island’s survival.

As noted, this publication is about Cuban technology innovation. Safety concerns or interpretation of photos will be left up to the reader.

ELECTRICAL INNOVATION

Anything electrical is a challenge in Cuba. There are limited electrical outlets found on walls. The power strip below is an innovation that uses a parallel circuit (which is correct) connectivity to replicate one power plug. Side note: some Cuban outlets are 110V or 220V and often not marked. Yes, I have blown up an electrical appliance that was 110V and plugged it into a 220V outlet….KABOOM!

Now, getting that electrical power, if available, in Cuba is another challenge, as the photo below shows. Don’t forget “The Island of Darkness” with its old power plants and routine blackouts. The wires below are a common site of years and years of running connections between buildings, including electrical, telephone, and internet. Essentially, a spaghetti montage of wires that should include a sign, “DO NOT TOUCH!”

APPLIANCE INNOVATION

I have viewed many appliances from stoves, tabletop cooking, outside grills, to small appliance modifications. One of the foremost modifications is for coffee brewing. Coffee is an important daily joy for most Cubans and modifying a regular stove top coffee pot and converting it to an electrical one upgrades the appliance. In addition, if gas is not available and electricity is, an electrical coffee maker comes in very handy. The only suggestion below, unplug the coffee maker before grabbing the handle.

Another option with coffee making is the use of an alternative source of hot water. The inline hot water shower provides instant hot water and is utilized as a quick way to brew a cup of coffee. Plus, the wonderful smell of coffee before a shower is a nice thing to enjoy.

The prize for cooking innovation (below) is the configuration of an old fan housing, a metal chair, and wood knob to hold the lid shut for a pressure cooker. This setup works during the electrical outages and of course no need for cooking gas which most of the time is non-existent. A pressure cooker is a critical part of Cuban life for cooking beans; it’s economically more efficient and uses less energy. 

The cell phone is the center of all electrical products for the Cuban people. It’s innovation from repairs, charging, recharge sharing, to creative apps generated inside the country. Even though Cubans are so distant from cell phone technology, they probably know more about electronics than 90% of the people on the planet.

 AUTOMOTIVE INNOVATION

If there was anything more amazing in Cuba it’s the repair of automobiles and enhancements. An old car with a sunroof, modern radio, electric windows, etc. Endless innovations to old American vehicles to the Russian Ladas spewing exhaust fumes in the streets. Most people can’t afford repair shops and are found fixing their cars in the middle of public roads. For spare parts either from black market imports or small machine shops to replicate components. For tools, the very basics can be found for repairs and most are as old as the antiquated automobiles. Being a passenger in a Cuban automobile, it’s an appreciation of the diligence they commit to keeping their vehicles operating.

 WEATHER INNOVATION

The ongoing affiliation of weather on the island includes earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and of course, no one to rescue the people. The lady below still has to feed her family and cooking in a flooded muddy house is not a choice, it’s survival for the continuity of life.

There are so many images of technology innovation in Cuba, that for sure all cannot be listed. However, it’s meaningful to consider how I could survive without access to tools, parts, or repair shops as the Cuban people do. Cubans may not have the most eloquent innovations in the world, but they make do with what they have, they don’t complain and are very appreciative when they receive a used cell phone which for them is brand new. If you plan a trip to Cuba, visit a hardware store, tool shop, or whatever before your visit and bring something that can help Cubans make repairs. Side note, one item that was a real hit…the glue gun and extra sticks.

Read more from Cuba here on Havana Times.