Pedal Powered Wireless Networked Computer? 93
Friends of Jhai asks: "An NGO called Jhai Foundation, which is building Internet learning Centers in Laos has enlisted Computer Hall-of-Famer Lee Felsenstein to build a cheap, locally assembled, wirlelessly networked PC and communications system. The current details of the machine are here and the application is here. They are looking for similar systems under way that they might work with or which might be ready for deployment. Anyone have any URL's we can check out?" Great! Now you can get your computing and exercising done at the same time! What other types of technology have people managed to adapt to man-power as opposed to boring ol' AC outlets?
I have to start taking steroids.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I have to start taking steroids.. (Score:2)
Re:I have to start taking steroids.. (Score:2)
Yeah, I guess all those pandas and giraffes generate a lot of power...
If you were talking about the World Wrestling Federation, it's now the 'WWE' or something like that... the World Wildlife Fund made them change their acronym a few months (?) back.
- Jester
Re:I have to start taking steroids.. (Score:1)
Re:I have to start taking steroids.. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I have to start taking steroids.. (Score:2)
Or stop spending every single day sitting in front of the computer eating cheetos and pudding snacks inbetween McD's and Taco Bell.
one place to start (Score:2, Informative)
Hopefully a typo (Score:2, Interesting)
Computer: 5.5 Watts
Display 13 Watts
Printer (idle) 12 Watts (with inverter)
Printer (printing) 48Watts (with inverter)
Now, is this just a typo, or does a printer standing idly by truly drain twice the power consumed by the operating computer.
I'm guessing the former. I looked quickly for a link webmaster of the site but in my minute of searching found nothing.
Re: (Score:1)
Re:Probably not a typo (Score:2)
Re:Probably not a typo (Score:1)
However, given that you can by a useable ink jet at target for around 30 bucks, maybe the project will given up the noble intentions of employing dot matrix printers and go with (what I assume would be) more efficient ink jets.
Does anyone have #'s for the ink jets?
For the third world (Score:1)
Re:Hopefully a typo (Score:2)
While thats a gross simplication of the power consumption of a computer -- its not hard to imagine that a printer with moving parts requires much more voltage and current then a computer which is pretty much stationary save for the hard disk (requires alot of current to spin up then just a fraction afterwords).
Re:Hopefully a typo (Score:1)
Re:Hopefully a typo (Score:1)
Re:Hopefully a typo (Score:1)
You sure Coke didn't put them up to this? (Score:1, Funny)
Problems down the road (Score:1)
Le Tour de France [letour.fr]
Re:Problems down the road (Score:1)
Re:Problems down the road (Score:1)
(Incidently, it's a
Re:Problems down the road (Score:4, Funny)
The good old soviet stuff... (Score:4, Interesting)
-hand-powered flashlight: you squeeze the handle to generate light. Works, but takes a superhuman to keep the light bright enough to be useful. Good if you only need a flashlight 2 seconds at a time once a day.
-wind-up shaver: turn a handle for a good five minutes to get 30 seconds of buzzing. Wouldn't try if it really works.
Both very recommended items for generating lively discussions at parties. Available in second hand stores throughout the baltic countries.
Better Wind-up stuff available now (Score:3, Interesting)
Same company advertises a wind-up flashlight... haven't got around to buying it yet, I might someday, but how do I find it in the dark?
Re:Better Wind-up stuff available now (Score:1)
Why do the Russians have the best communications? (Score:1)
As an A.C. posted, the Russians have the Universal Translator [ectaco.com]
Good thing they didn't use Windows (Score:1)
"Let's see...Start...Shut Down...OK...there we go. Hmmm, seems to be taking a while to shut down. Better keep pedalling in case we accidentally shut it off early."
The ultimate Geek workout (Score:4, Funny)
ESPN did a commercial with lance armstrong (Score:4, Funny)
Re:ESPN did a commercial with lance armstrong (Score:3, Funny)
Benjamin Franklin said this originally, only he was talking about beer, which, I think, is a statement much closer to the truth.
Please feel free to moderate this as offtopic, since it certainly is, but some sigs must be answered. I posted without the bonus...
Re: (Score:1)
Tomorrows news (Score:5, Funny)
A man in Laos suffered a sudden heart attack when the computer he was powering by pedal received a massive DOS attack and quadrupled its power needs.
Local authorities beleive the DOS attack was caused after a neighbour, whom he has had many problems with, posted the address of the pedal powered computer to a popular web site.
Looks like... (Score:3, Funny)
Heh (Score:1)
Yeah, anyone got any web servers we can crash and networks we can flood?
Re:Heh (Score:2)
Error 404: Cyclist redundancy check failed.
Great... (Score:1, Funny)
Alternative systems (Score:3, Insightful)
This story reminds me of what happened when someone first tried to bring the internet to Nepal. They tried to find a local English-speaker for a contact person, they could only find one or two, and they were not interested in the project. They said they were far too busy working with foreign countries that were helping install sewers and electricity.
All this project is going to do is make poor countries even poorer. They can make all the pedal-power systems they want, but still have to buy computer hardware from abroad, using hard currency. I urge people to stop and think about whether this computer stuff is what third-world countries really NEED. Maybe someone should ASK them what they need, instead of suggesting projects based on what WE think they should need. I betcha they'd ask for things like Vitamin A tablets and refrigerators and AM radios.
Re:Alternative systems (Score:2)
Re:Alternative systems (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Alternative systems (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Alternative systems (Score:2)
notice any internal contradiction here?
5 watt computer? (Score:1, Informative)
Re:5 watt computer? (Score:2, Interesting)
Secondly, this is Laos, it may be tropical but in the monsoon there ain't much sun. Also, maybe a few turns of the crank is how someone who can't read or write, even in Lao, pays for the message to be written and sent, then read back.
Third. A lot of the communication will be between local communities and their members who have left for work in other places and send home some money or want to buy approriate gifts for local cultural events. eCommerce is not necessarily about selling ethic items to rich people. Have a look at the figures for Grameen Phone and Ethiogift.
Re:5 watt computer? (Score:1)
http://www.techempower.net/0/editorial.asp?aff_id
and Jhai System Development Status
http://www.techempower.net/0/editorial.asp?aff_id
a few urls (human powered electronics) (Score:4, Informative)
Don't exercice too much, keep some blood for the brains.
Re:This is ridiculous (Score:1)
Re:This is ridiculous (Score:2, Informative)
Yo, A.C.: You're right, as long as you look at it from a "PC in every hut" perspective.
You are correct in prioritizing drinking water, sanitation, and medicine among the Laotians greatest needs. This computing and communications initiative should be purposed as a tool for community support. Wireless communications relayed from ridgetop to ridgetop by will give these remote communities access to information resources in larger, urban areas that can enhance the communities ability to sustain it's own needs.
Some of the populated areas in Laos are similar to terrains in the Americas that we call "damn-near innaccessible". Parts cannot just be fed-exed for reparing water pumps and filtration systems. The Laotians need solutions based as much as possible on sustainable technology that they can maintain and repair without unneccessary external logistics. And when thing really get FUBAR, they need access to expert information on how to proceed with repairs, or arrange for ordering and transport of replacement parts... even plan for community growth. The system can be used to receive informational materials to train locals in the basic use and repair of infrastructure.
There is no "minor medical emergency center" down the block in these areas. When medical needs go beyond first aid, these people could benefit from even the most basic access to the advice of a physician. After reporting symtoms, recommendations for treatment can be made, and logistics arranged to re-stock community medical supplies, transport a medical professional to the site, or arrange for emergency transport of a patient to a hospital in a larger community.
If you want to permanently raise the standard of living, then EDUCATE. If you combine this computing/communications system with a handful of shared units like the SimPuter (or similar PDA, though hopefully powered rechargeable batteries charged with renewable energy sources), then you can read manuals and read/compose email offline, and download educational courseware to bootstrap classrooms in even the most remote region. Again, the wireless link provides access to expert advice from professional teachers located in more settled areas. I'd like to point out that the SimPuter includes a GUI that supports iconic systems, and a text-to-speech engine that works for Hindi... Laotian can't be that much more of a stretch, so ultimately, even the illiterate can benefit from this.
And since the Jhai system runs on storage batteries charged by pedal generators, there are less issues with this power source than you think. It is possible to charge a large storage battery over a period of time, so that the computer can be run long enough to load and send/receive your communications for the day, and download it to PDAs for access offline. This is a tool for importation of useless trivia, it a way of connecting remote villages to knowledge they need to achieve the standard of living that you (and I) wish for them.
Re:This is ridiculous (Score:2)
FSCKing hard disk crashes (Score:1)
I've seriously wanted one since ... (Score:2)
It soon got to the point where it would have detracted from my holiday less if I had been able to write more freely that my iBook batteries allowed.
But even for the rest of the year, there is some appeal in the idea of being able to do something for cardiovascular fitness while we work.
So there really might be a market amongst relatively affluent nerds for early implementations of pedal powered computing, though maybe sans printer.
Then if the third world continues to see wisdom in leaping straight into the information age as a tactic for improving the rest of their lives the technology might be got to the point needed to make economic sense.
A lifetime ago, the lives of settlers in the Australian outback were improved by the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air [nt.edu.au], both of which were made effective by Alfred Traegar's [wilmap.com.au] development of the pedal wireless and a morse code keyboard.
I remember such a thing! (Score:1)
Wind up radios and shoe generators (Score:2, Informative)
_______________
Here's a similar project... (Score:1)
I haven't notices any mention of the SOLO [explan.co.uk], a project to develop a RISC workstation for use with renewable energy resources in third world countries.
Also, the idea of using pedal generators is not new, but not yet well developed. The Light Project [lightuptheworld.org] uses pedal-generators and storage bateries to power white LED lamp to provide indoor lighting in third-world countries for living working and education.
Alternet system (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
This is a waste of pedaling, there are better uses (Score:1)
Check out this, the MoneyMaker pump. Man-powered irrigation. This is the way to bring computers to impoverished nations... let them irrigate and farm, and then eventually they can buy their own computers.
Electricity generation (Score:1)
Beware of car generators [awea.org] to produce electricity : they need high rpm's and are efficient (to be checked, I am not sure) when producing hundred's of watts (tens of amps at 12 volts).