Soccer Ball That Is Also A Portable Generator



(YouTube link)

Many children around the world don't have electricity but they do play soccer. The soccket is a soccer ball that captures energy with every kick. Fifteen minutes of play produces three hours of light.


The sOccket harnesses the kinetic (motion) energy of the soccer ball during normal game play and stores it for later power needs. After play, an LED lamp can be plugged into the sOccket to provide light for reading and other activities normally impossible after dark.


It's a clean, portable generator that can provide light to families in need around the world. Four Harvard students created this project for the American Express-sponsored Take Part program.

http://www.soccket.com/ - Via John Gushue ... Dot Dot Dot





Comments (7)

Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

If the human expends energy to kick the ball around, wouldn't it be more efficient for the human simply to crank a generator?

Sometimes the less glamorous ideas are the ones that work.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Of course there's always the already-widespread and very inexpensive 'shake torch' - shake for a minute and it gives you 10 minutes of light. Advantage: if the power runs down in the middle of the night you don't have to boot it around the house in the dark until it's recharged.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Hmmm...well. I guess there's now one reason I can be thankful for some of the side-effects of working in retail for years, because it's honed my politely-ending-conversations-and-quickly-getting-away skills!

Body language helps a lot, use it!
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I just close my eyes, cover my ears and start screaming while counting up... I usually open an eye to have a peek when I'm around 15 seconds and most times the other person is gone. However, sometimes people don't know how to react and will stand there and stare at me, unable to process what is going on. If by 30 seconds (second peek) the person is still there, I'll start running away as fast as I can while still covering my ears and counting (eyes should be open at that point tho, I tried with eyes closed once and it didn't end well, I was stuck with the person for 20 minutes until ambulance arrived). If by 45 seconds the person followed me when I ran away, well by then they deserve a conversation, so I'll stop running and screaming and just invite them to my house for coffee. Not a lot of people come to my house.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
@everwhere

right, because they've got the exclusive rights to intentionally crudely drawn comics on the internet?

i've read the entirety of both the oatmeal and hyperbole and a half. they are not the same, nor is one a 'rip off' of the other. they are sovereign entities.

how's *your* awesome website that you make enough money to live off of going?

that's what i thought.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"Soccer Ball That Is Also A Portable Generator"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More