Gizmos and the Future of Things

[John Raabe]

This site has all kinds of interesting new gadgets that are in various stages of development:

Main site: http://thefutureofthings.com/

Here are two that caught my eye:

• A three pound electric aircraft that can fly for 1/2 hour and find its way back home: http://thefutureofthings.com/pod/1261/voyeur-autonomous-uav.html



• A low-tech wind powered generator that runs on a vibrating strip rather than a rotor: http://thefutureofthings.com/news/1027/windbelt-technology-good-vibrations.html

[MountainDon]

   John.  Thanks.

[glenn kangiser]

Thanks John.  A fairly simple wind technology that I might be able to play with.

More here.

http://www.humdingerwind.com/index.php#/wi_large/

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

I was toying with the idea of building an exercise bike generator that would charge the battery on the computer.  DH sits at a desk at work all day and is always complaining that he doesn't get enough exercise, so maybe if he had to pedal to charge the computer, he would.  Sure, wind and solar make a lot of sense, but sometimes a little work for a little leisure is a good idea. 

[Sassy]

I've suggested that myself - for me!  We have this antique washing machine that you turn a handle to cause it to agitate the clothes - I suggested attaching a little generator to an exercise bike that would generate power & at the same time attaching to the agitator to cause it to go up & down as I rode the bike...  I was expecting DH to set it up, guess I should have tried to build it myself...   

John, that generator looks pretty simple & also aesthetically pleasing - wonder how well it would work?

[glenn kangiser]

I'm afraid if I build it for her she will wear out the rest of her partially working body parts. I have really thought about that.