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Power Walking
A conceptual design from 1999, Non-Stop Shoes (NSS), by Spanish designer Emil Padòs, is a collaboration with Camper that asks the question: What would happen if you could harness the energy you create through walking? Padòs imagines a world where the calories you exert through everyday activity can be stored and used later to power small lights, mp3 players, fans or other appliances. This invention seems so obvious that I’m really surprised it hasn’t become commonplace in footwear. A quick search on Google reveals that a US patent was awarded for “footwear with energy storing sole construction” in 2001, but I’ve yet to see anything utilizing this technology on the market. Can you imagine the benefit of self-sufficient energy for activities like trekking? Or better yet, what if all the runners in a marathon were given this footwear, and the collective energy harvested could be used for some form of positive change?
To see more of Padòs’s thought-provoking designs, go to his emili ana design studio.
3 Responses to “Power Walking”
This reminds me of two things:
1) there are kinetic batteries being used today for devices needing small amounts of power, like watches. I imagine cell phones are next. (imagine never having to plug in your cell phone or ipod)
2) check out http://www.springwise.com/eco_sustainability/hot_nightclub_minus_global_war/
What a fantastic notion! In addition to being a great method for reducing non-renewable energy consumption, having energy-storing shoes would probably give many people the urge to get outside and be more active!
I went searching for more information, and found this site regarding the development of “parasitic power in shoes”…
http://www.media.mit.edu/resenv/power.html
I love the idea that a dancefloor can generate energy! Many of the clubs here in Portland are actually built in old ballrooms that have springs under the floors already. Now if our city can figure out how to hook those springs up to generators, we’ll have more reason to rock out… and another environmental excuse to get out on the town more often: “Honey, I need to contribute a few amps to the grid tonight. It’s my obligation…”
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