Posts tagged as:

piezoelectric

Blood Powered Gadgets – The Future Human Grid

by Jay G on March 30, 2009

nanowireEver considered yourself as a source of power?  Imagine, actually hooking up gadgets to you in order to power them?

This might not be as far-fetched as it sounds.

Scientists reckon that piezoelectric nanowires could be put into our blood vessels where they’d harness the energy created by blood flow in order to power various gadgets and futuristic people-powered devices.

I can’t help but vizualise a human clone farm all plugged into the National Grid powering our homes.

As far as powering our smaller gadgets via a seemingly vampiric source the scientists point out that there are no practical or commercial uses planned for these zinc oxide nanowires.

Not at the moment anyhow – or so they’re telling us!

This bloody news came from Live Science via Engadget

{ 3 comments }

LightDrops – Rain Powered LED Umbrella

by Jay Garrett on December 16, 2008

lightdropsAs the days keep getting shorter and weather more moist perhaps the ideal would be an umbrella that lights up.

Better still, how about an umbrella that lights up by the power of rain?

Nah – that could never happen.  Could it?

The answer is yes; thanks to designer Sang-Kyun Park and LightDrops.

The umbrella uses the piezoelectric effect of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to transform falling rain into electricity, which is then used to light LEDs installed on the umbrella’s underside.

So, the heavier the rain falls the brighter the light shines!

I think the fact that on dark nights it will look like some weird glowing, floating thing is enjoying the rain would be worth the price alone :)
StyleCrave

{ 0 comments }

Volt-Couture. The Piezoelectric Dress

April 29, 2008 Click to read more →

In the world of geek-chic, solar-powered dresses are so ‘06 daaaaahling!
The ladies in the know are all about piezoelectric material, just check out the rather natty Piezing.
Designed by Amanda Parkes, this piece of couture is set to steal the show at the 2ndSkin expo in San Francisco.
The outfit features electricity-generating fabrics around the joints of [...]