Walking as a way to charge your electronic accessories…
Posted in CSA, Health & Medicine, Science on February 14th, 2008
I saw this report on my favorite tech news site (slashdot.org) and it’s sort of been in my mind swirling around with a lot of other miscellaneous thoughts. The article from the University of Michigan News Service said:
A new energy-capturing knee brace can generate enough electricity from walking to operate a portable GPS locator, a cell phone, a motorized prosthetic joint or an implanted neurotransmitter, research involving the University of Michigan shows.
So, I’m wondering could we eventually have a lighter weight knee brace that’s fitted into our jeans or athletic gear and it somehow stores the energy into fiber batteries so later it can be downloaded to some off-line (out of my clothes) storage battery-type thingy. I mean if walking was not only healthy for me but would reduce my electrical bill because I could generate power to charge/run small devices then … well, maybe a lot more American would be out there walking… well, maybe not — but it’s a thought.
I like to multi-task — though I’ve been told that it’s physically impossible (that got a chuckle out of me but the person(s) who said this was deadly serious and a past employer for obvious reasons) anyway so since I read on the exercise bike or knit/bike/watch TV, why not reduce my electric bill by doing something to feel good, get healthy and help to save the environment. Imagine the generator brace on both knees, both elbows and then taking a brisk walk or run (for me it would be a slow walk but it’s the thought that counts anyway).