A musical instrument to transform lives.
I've developed a prototype musical instrument - a percussion shaker -
that converts the energy from playing it into electricity. It's called SPARK.
- SPARK enables people to....
generate electricity so that they can plug in a light or charge
up a mobile phone, simply through having a music jam.
- In places like Kenya, where 75% of the population live without access to electricity,
having the ability to read at night or charge up a mobile phone gives people the chance of a
better education and also access to services like the revolutionary
mobile phone banking system, M-PESA.
that converts the energy from playing it into electricity. It's called SPARK.
- SPARK enables people to....
generate electricity so that they can plug in a light or charge
up a mobile phone, simply through having a music jam.
- In places like Kenya, where 75% of the population live without access to electricity,
having the ability to read at night or charge up a mobile phone gives people the chance of a
better education and also access to services like the revolutionary
mobile phone banking system, M-PESA.
I've tested the prototype with a number of different communities in Kenya and have
proven it is incredibly useful to people. Children, teachers and village elders
have all embraced it.
proven it is incredibly useful to people. Children, teachers and village elders
have all embraced it.
Now, I need your support to produce the products.
Make a pledge today and be a part of #ShakeYourPower!
Whether you can give £5 for a special shout out on Twitter or £4,000 to be
part of our team for a week in Kenya, donate and get involved.
part of our team for a week in Kenya, donate and get involved.
Music is the motivation
I've been the percussionist with the band Faithless for 15 years, and I've often
wondered whether the huge amounts of energy produced from playing at gigs
could be harnessed and used.
wondered whether the huge amounts of energy produced from playing at gigs
could be harnessed and used.
I passionately believe we need to look at how to harness alternative sources
of renewable energy that are good for people and the planet.
of renewable energy that are good for people and the planet.
At it's heart this is a project about inter-dependence and togetherness;
an invitation for all of us to rise up as guardians of nature and bring
power to those who need it.
an invitation for all of us to rise up as guardians of nature and bring
power to those who need it.
For me, this project is also about connecting people and bringing them together through music.
Through the joy of playing music we can create something really useful,
changing the world one beat and one shake at a time.
Through the joy of playing music we can create something really useful,
changing the world one beat and one shake at a time.
Nakuru Juvenile prison, Nakuru, Kenya
Impact
Impact
During testing, the people who used SPARK said it was useful because they had light
in the evenings which they used for doing homework, household chores and for lighting
their way home in the dark.
in the evenings which they used for doing homework, household chores and for lighting
their way home in the dark.
SPARK will enable children and their families to be safer by eliminating the need
of kerosene for light for example, and by providing light for women and girls in areas
where rape is a huge problem.
of kerosene for light for example, and by providing light for women and girls in areas
where rape is a huge problem.
Through mobile phone charging, SPARK will enable children and their families
to be connected. In rural Kenya, this is a real issue because families are
often living far from shops, medical help, or banking services.
to be connected. In rural Kenya, this is a real issue because families are
often living far from shops, medical help, or banking services.
What comes next?
The first stage of the SPARK prototype has been made. I'm raising money
to do three things:
- To take the prototype to the finished product
to do three things:
- To take the prototype to the finished product
This includes researching and developing the materials, including investigating
local Kenyan resources as well as recycled waste or plastic. I also want to add
further energy harnessing techniques to get the maximum energy for the minimum shake.
local Kenyan resources as well as recycled waste or plastic. I also want to add
further energy harnessing techniques to get the maximum energy for the minimum shake.
Currently, 12 minutes of shaking gives an hour of light which can be stored in a battery.
So if SPARK is played in a music lesson for example, it would provide light at home
for a whole evening.
So if SPARK is played in a music lesson for example, it would provide light at home
for a whole evening.
The technology of SPARK is capable of charging a mobile phone.
The next stage is to add this feature to the existing prototype and to then take the
finished product to manufacture.
- To manufacture and distribute the product
The next stage is to add this feature to the existing prototype and to then take the
finished product to manufacture.
- To manufacture and distribute the product
My aim is to distribute the finished product to all the schools and homes I visited
on my trip to Kenya.
on my trip to Kenya.
I need you to help me produce the first 1,000 shakers.
That's 1,000 shakers which will bring light to 1,000 homes.
That's 1,000 shakers which will bring light to 1,000 homes.
I also want to explore ways in which the shaker can be distributed throughout
Africa and to other countries that don't have power and need it, as well as developing
effective manufacturing and distribution channels to take the project to scale.
- To develop and test educational assembly kits
Africa and to other countries that don't have power and need it, as well as developing
effective manufacturing and distribution channels to take the project to scale.
- To develop and test educational assembly kits
Equally important to me, is to develop and test educational assembly kits,
which will allow school children to learn the technology around the shaker by building
the component parts themselves and subsequently their own power.
Children studying science, technology, engineering, and music will all benefit from
the application that these kits show.
which will allow school children to learn the technology around the shaker by building
the component parts themselves and subsequently their own power.
Children studying science, technology, engineering, and music will all benefit from
the application that these kits show.
Once the initial 1,000 shakers are distributed and the kits are developed and tested,
the next step is to distribute these kits to all schools in rural Kenya - that's to 75%
of Kenyan schools.
the next step is to distribute these kits to all schools in rural Kenya - that's to 75%
of Kenyan schools.
Imagine the impact this will have if 75% of Kenyan children can understand how t
his technology works, can learn how to build it themselves, and can then take
their product and use it at home!
his technology works, can learn how to build it themselves, and can then take
their product and use it at home!
Spread the word
Help get the word out and make some noise about #ShakeYourPower!
- Tweet it, Facebook it, and forward the email that brought you here.
- Post it, blog about it and tell your friends.
- Tweet it, Facebook it, and forward the email that brought you here.
- Post it, blog about it and tell your friends.
Suggested tweets
- It's a musical instrument that generates enough kinetic energy to power a light
or charge a phone #ShakeYourPower http://kck.st/1xCypFQ
- Help bring power to communities without electricity through the joy of music - #ShakeYourPower http://kck.st/1xCypFQ
- Sudha Kheterpal, percussionist for Faithless and the Spice Girls, is lighting up
the world with music #ShakeYourPower http://kck.st/1xCypFQ
- It's a musical instrument that generates enough kinetic energy to power a light
or charge a phone #ShakeYourPower http://kck.st/1xCypFQ
- Help bring power to communities without electricity through the joy of music - #ShakeYourPower http://kck.st/1xCypFQ
- Sudha Kheterpal, percussionist for Faithless and the Spice Girls, is lighting up
the world with music #ShakeYourPower http://kck.st/1xCypFQ
The technology
As SPARK is played, a magnet moves backwards and forwards through
the centre of a solenoid, a coil of copper wire.
A current is induced in the loops of wire and each time the magnet slides through,
it charges up a rechargeable battery.
Because the energy is stored, SPARK can be played in the morning, then later during
the day and again in the evening, for example. The user can plug in a light or charge
up a mobile phone instantly or at a later time.
the day and again in the evening, for example. The user can plug in a light or charge
up a mobile phone instantly or at a later time.
Design
The concept of the shaker is based on the heart; the seat of power for the human body,
a symbol of strength and courage and what connects us all as a global community.
- The outside design of the shaker is based on the concept of a flint stone.
It refers to new beginnings; to the initial spark caused by two flint stones contacting each
other to give birth to a powerful new source of energy.
It refers to new beginnings; to the initial spark caused by two flint stones contacting each
other to give birth to a powerful new source of energy.
Production plan
The main part of the research and development will take place here in the UK,
and the testing will take place in both the UK and Kenya.
I estimate that it will take 9 months for the shaker and the assembly
kits to be ready for manufacture and distribution.
το διάβασα εδώ : kickstarter.com
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου