21–30 of 149 posts
I think they would rather leave some USB port available than let you wear down their chains
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Average rent in London is over $2,000 per month. You don’t have to be a bum to be homeless.
and median income in London appears to be ~41K GBP, so that rent would be about 80% of the income. No wonder there's lots of homelessness.
A wall socket can be found just about anywhere, if you really need power quick there are fast charging powerbanks.
It is illegal to use a socket without permission and there aren't that many sockets accessible outdoor.
“I was charging my phone :(“
This seems more like an art project than a practical solution.
What’s the advantage of using those bicycles, as opposed to just having a crank on it? Pedaling a bicycle backwards isn’t really ergonomic.
Yet on a single hand crank, even 20 watts and you'll get tired pretty quick.
Part of that is that leg muscles are bigger. Part of it is that you're used to walking or standing for long periods of time. Part of it is that with a dual crank you aren't putting useless effort into holding the device up and holding the weight of your own arms up.
End result: Hand cranks are useless unless you only need tiny amounts of energy out of a human.
What’s the advantage of using those bicycles, as opposed to just having a crank on it? Pedaling a bicycle backwards isn’t really ergonomic.
This is an art/design project by an undergraduate student - not necessarily a serious product. But I wonder if cycling backwards is still easier than using a hand crank
I dunno… this “idea” feels so ignorant that it’s basically offensive.
Nice prototype, but it doesn't actually work does it? Turns out that to transfer any significant torque (and therefore energy), you need either a larger gear, or a larger subtended angle, or a higher chain tension - and ideally all three. Since this device has none of those, I can be pretty confident that even after hours of pedalling, you won't have a charged phone. In fact, the video even shows the chain jumping sh…
I do like the base idea of "why not just use the machines that are already idle everywhere" though.
What’s the advantage of using those bicycles, as opposed to just having a crank on it? Pedaling a bicycle backwards isn’t really ergonomic.
Bicycles are among the most efficient energy conversion systems human-kind has ever invented .. the difference between a single lever (which, after all, is still an option with the existing design) and a bicycle lever/gear system, means all the difference in the world when the calories are, already, a regular daily concern for the target user. Plus, it gives the bikes utility when they're not being rented, since the…
I'm quite surprised it can be built for £3, unless the battery is incredibly small.