Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#21

Post by pjc50 » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 9:57 AM UTC

Nice bit of cheap woodwork from scrap materials, but the main problem this will run into is that most jurisdictions will apply (or bend) laws about parking and temporary structures to take away and destroy your wooden trailer shelter.

Or, in the case of Hungary, make homelessness illegal entirely. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/15/europe/hungary-criminaliz... / http://abouthungary.hu/fundamental-law/qa-on-the-upcoming-am...

Homelessness is a complex social problem that requires quite a lot of social intervention work to fix. It's not something that can be papered over with a wooden shelter.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#22

Post by User23 » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 10:10 AM UTC

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanty_town

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#23

Post by larl » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 10:13 AM UTC

ErikHuisman wrote: post #15

Broken_Hippo wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair: If I'm given the choice of sleeping outside without protection or sleeping in one of these, I'm gonna take these. I think it is a horrible choice to have to make, mind you, but neither is comfortable. I'm gonna guess I'd not be stretched out on a city street either.

But if you are going to build a pod why not build a slightly bigger pod that fits you?

It looks like there is a hinged floor that folds down and is covered by a tarp. That should get to about 80"

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#24

Post by DennisP » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 10:45 AM UTC

Interesting but I think I'd rather have a backpack carrying a tent, sleeping bag, and pad. That's a fine shelter used by backpackers everywhere in all sorts of severe conditions, with much easier and less conspicuous mobility than rolling this thing around.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#25

Post by pontifier » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 11:10 AM UTC

Some of the people at my Makerspace have contemplated a similar project using foam board insulation to help deal with the extreme cold here in Utah.

I can't believe how we continue to fail these people with discriminatory laws, innefective innitiatives, and nimbyism.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#26

Post by dsfyu404ed » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 12:20 PM UTC

newnewpdro wrote: post #4

"Unlike a tent, an Occupod is a solid mobile sleeping platform that rolls down a sidewalk and provides safe sheltered sleeping at night." Unlike an Occupod, a tent isn't easily rolled off a cliff or into traffic while the occupant is too high to notice. There's so much wrong with the execution of this, I don't know where to start.

>There's so much wrong with the execution of this, I don't know where to start.

This looks like every other mechanical engineering undergraduate capstone project. Relying on paint for waterproofing is the real kicker.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#27

Post by jameskegel » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 12:54 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #12

duskwuff wrote: post #6

"No Place For The Living" seems... rather the opposite of the intended message. On a more technical level, many pallets are chemically treated to prevent insect damage. The chemicals used for this treatment can be quite hazardous; sleeping on top of a damp, chemically treated pallet is practically a worst case.

> sleeping on top of a damp, chemically treated pallet is practically a worst case. Worse than sleeping out in the rain?

In the case of chemically treated pallets quite simply yes.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#28

Post by Broken_Hippo » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 12:59 PM UTC

newnewpdro wrote: post #16

Broken_Hippo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If someone is homeless, what is the likelyhood they'll be stretched out anyway?

I don't understand what homelessness has to do with extending one's limbs.

Stretching out on one's back or side or stomach is something mot folks take for granted. We are in relatively safe, warm, and dry conditions. Trying to find those good conditions when you are homeless can be a bit more of a challenge, at least if you don't have a car. Even with a car, most folks are crunched up in the seats to some degree.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#29

Post by Broken_Hippo » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 1:01 PM UTC

ErikHuisman wrote: post #15

Broken_Hippo wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair: If I'm given the choice of sleeping outside without protection or sleeping in one of these, I'm gonna take these. I think it is a horrible choice to have to make, mind you, but neither is comfortable. I'm gonna guess I'd not be stretched out on a city street either.

But if you are going to build a pod why not build a slightly bigger pod that fits you?

I personally want to give folks proper housing. Minimally a room with a private bath and lockable door with shared kitchen spaces (if one is single) or proper housing for a family.

But if a dry and possibly secure pod was what I had available, I'd take it. If I had the choice of one that allowed me to move around more and stretch out, I'd take it. If I had the choice of indoor plumbing, heat, and so on, I'd take it.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#30

Post by dsfyu404ed » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 1:09 PM UTC

sleepychu wrote: post #11

tropdrop wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have never tried laying on a 42" pallet - have you? I really can't say if it's too small to sleep in. A simple picture (even a stylized, human-sized vector drawing) would put debates about whether this pod is too small to bed.

42" is slightly over half my height, hard to imagine this being comfortable

It would be more comfortable than a doorway.