"Since August 2005, when visits to an Eritrean village prompted him
to research global access to artificial light, Mr. Bent, 49, a former
foreign service officer and Houston oilman, has spent $250,000 to
develop and manufacture a solar-powered flashlight.
His
invention gives up to seven hours of light on a daily solar recharge
and can last nearly three years between replacements of three AA
batteries costing 80 cents."
"“I find it hard sometimes to explain the scope of the problems in these
camps with no light,” Mr. Bent said. “If you’re an environmentalist you
think about it in terms of discarded batteries and coal and wood
burning and kerosene smoke; if you’re a feminist you think of it in
terms of security for women and preventing sexual abuse and violence;
if you’re an educator you think about it in terms of helping children
and adults study at night.”"
Read more at NY Times
"Take it apart"
Popular Science has a gallery of how 10 marvels work - from GPS Navigation to WII Controllers to the monsters that lay underground cables. And the short take off, vertical landing F-35B, the new toy for the Marines.
May 31, 2007 in Industry Commentary | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)