Kick the SOCCKET for Light!

The SOCCKET

Energy cannot be destroyed, it can only be transferred. That was what I learned from my science classes back in school. Hence it is possible to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy. This knowledge is not new, but how a team of scientists applied this knowledge has given new meaning to 'the power of  play'.

As you might have guessed, the SOCCKET generates electricity whenever it is moved.  Unlike the dynamo on a bicycle, the SOCCKET has a pendulum inside it which swings and converts kinetic energy into electrical energy which is then stored in a rechargeable battery. Like a dynamo, it powers a light source - an LED in particular - when connected to the charger. It is estimated to be able to generate 3-hours of light from 30-minutes of play.

There is no need to worry about fragility. After all, it was designed to function like a regular soccer ball. It is actually more durable than the conventional soccer ball, in that it will not deflate, as it is made of a specialised foam.

The inventors, Jessica O. Matthews and Julia Silverman, founded a social enterprise called Uncharted Play in 2011, which mass produces the SOCKKET. However, the initial patent for the invention is held by Matthews and Silverman, along with Jessica Lin, Hemali Thakkar and Aviva Presser, who are alumni of Harvard University. The project has almost raised $100,000 on Kickstarter, a fundraiser.

I first came across the SOCCKET a few months ago when my Dad showed me a commercial for it on Youtube. I hope the SOCCKET becomes a more readily available especially in countries and places where children and people in general are poverty-stricken, or have limited access to electricity.

Cheers
zhusun

Further reading:
http://unchartedplay.com/
http://www.ecogeek.org/human-powered/3858
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5gqoYkL8To