A Coat That Generates Its Own Power?

[Jon Westfall]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071105-australian-powered-jacket-can-charge-your-ipod-cell-phone-while-you-move.html' target='_blank'>http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/pos...e-you-move.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Coats are wonderful things. In ancient times, they served as protection against hostile sword-wielding enemies, while today they mainly protect us from the elements. In the future, however, they may also power our portable electronic devices, if an Australian organization called CSIRO has anything to say about it. CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, is Australia's national science agency. The organization recently received a grant of about $4.4 million Australian dollars (about $4.1 million US dollars) to develop what it calls a "Flexible Integrated Energy Device" (FIED), a piece of technology incorporated directly into a coat or jacket that would generate electrical energy to power the wearer's portable electronic devices. "It will look like an ordinary garment but have extraordinary capabilities," CSIRO principal research scientist Dr. Best said in a statement. "As the person wearing the garment moves, the vibrations they create can be harvested and channeled into recharging the battery or powering plug-in electronic device or devices."</i><br /><br /><img src=http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/power-shirt.jpg><br /><br />Hmm, so the days of powering my gear with my own vibrations may be at hand. One problem - I don't think I spend enough time in my jacket to really do anything about powering up that dead cell phone! But that little pragmatic thought doesn't take away from the idea's "coolness" factor one bit, does it?

[TOCA]

The futur is no longer looking bright, if this gizmo will gain anny popularity, the days of passive entertainment, are comming to an end.

Now I will have to get my fat **** out into the world, and shake that booty, just to get the music, to shake to :roll:

Next I'll be sitting on an exercise bike, to wach telli 8O

This is so NOT geeky, looks like the jocks are taking over, after all :(

[Steve Jordan]

Welcome to the post-cheap-power world, Toca.

Personally, I thought putting power generators in your heels made more sense, but then, you have to get that power up to someplace useful. Still, if you're stuck in a seat for awhile, like on a plane, you could tap your feet for power...

[moriahcom]

This is funny. I've been telling my friends and family about this for about 12 years. I thought (and they probably did to) that is was just another of my wacky inventions.

[BugDude10]

This could very well be the dorkiest thing ever.

[Cybrid]

This could very well be the dorkiest thing ever. Naw thats the car powered by organically produced methane.
:lol:

[TOCA]

Welcome to the post-cheap-power world, Toca.

Personally, I thought putting power generators in your heels made more sense, but then, you have to get that power up to someplace useful. Still, if you're stuck in a seat for awhile, like on a plane, you could tap your feet for power...

That could make flying interresting, to see all on buissiness class dancing arround to keep their Laptops running :lol:

How about: "Make Power not AIDS" condoms?

And changing the old John Lennon hit "Power to the people" to "Power from the people" :wink:

OK Funny mode off.

The concept is good, and I like it, but with fuelcells comming up, anny time soon, giving you all the power you need, fom two drops of water, then who will need electric clothing?