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New Twist on Power Walking

An anonymous reader writes "Carrying a newly designed backpack loaded with between 44 and 84 pounds of gear, users generate enough electricity to simultaneously power an MP3 player, a PDA, night vision goggles, a handheld GPS, a CMOS image decoder, a GSM terminal in talk mode, and Bluetooth."

25 of 253 comments (clear)

  1. Ob Snow Crash reference by richie2000 · · Score: 4, Funny

    - You're a gargoyle.

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    1. Re:Ob Snow Crash reference by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 4, Funny

      Any dirty bastards who read it as 'Power Wanking', please direct yourselves here.

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      Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
  2. 84 pounds to power devices? by cwtrex · · Score: 2, Funny

    might be worth it for over weight kids that want to power their game boy while walking for a change ...

    I suppose it'll help build muscle too lol

    1. Re:84 pounds to power devices? by OllieG · · Score: 3, Funny

      According to TFA, the backpack changes a walker's gait so that they actually walk more efficiently, so maybe not! Shame for all the fat kids, though.

  3. That would make you by silasthehobbit · · Score: 5, Funny

    A walking target for muggers. Or if you went on the London Underground with it, increase your likelihood of being shot by the Met Police exponentially

    1. Re:That would make you by FidelCatsro · · Score: 4, Funny

      With a few modifications you could be a walking talking beat-em up character ."Lighting bolt thrust" ..."Spinning Electro kick".. no mugger could touch ***"Nine Volt Man***
      That joke was shocking

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  4. Walking Chick Magnet! by blankoboy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not only generating power but instantly increasing your popularity with the fairer sex.

    1. Re:Walking Chick Magnet! by SimilarityEngine · · Score: 2, Funny

      According to the article:

      Suspended-load Backpack testers were able to generate up to 7.4 Watts...

      Everyone knows that walking chick magnets require several kilowatts to operate, so you'll have to jog rather quickly :-)

      --
      Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
  5. "... and Bluetooth"? by pieterh · · Score: 4, Funny

    The incredible accuracy of this list of items that the backpack can power quite astounds me.

    "Sorry sir, if you want to play WMAs you'll need the extended BackpackWindows version."

    "Sorry sir, USB2.0 is not supported. Have you considered using BlueTooth?"

    "Sorry sir, federal law requires you to wear night vision goggles while carrying this backpack. Yes, sir, I'm aware it's high noon. Regulations."

    "Sorry sir, but is that GSM terminal in talk mode? It is? OK, just checking... some tourists think they can use stand-by mode."

    1. Re:"... and Bluetooth"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's the new user-friendly standard notation for electric power. All that stuff about Watts and Joules was bound to confuse people!

  6. Musical Ninja by SimilarityEngine · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...enough electricity to simultaneously power an MP3 player ... night vision goggles ...

    Great! Now I can assasinate people while listening to the Kill Bill soundtrack!

    --
    Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
    1. Re:Musical Ninja by Rirath.com · · Score: 2, Funny

      Great! Now I can assasinate people while listening to the Kill Bill soundtrack!

      I've always wanted my own theme music...

  7. Sadly... by MaestroSartori · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...carrying all that gear means that the calls you do make on the GSM device in talk mode sound like heavy breathing pervert-o-calls, and you'll get busted for harrassment :)

  8. plug it in... by utnow · · Score: 1, Funny

    Seems like it would just be way easier to just plug it in at home and live with the fact that I'm only going to get ~16hours out of my iPod, 24hrs of standby on my cellphone... 5hrs out of my laptop. etc.

    Alternative energy like this won't really get anybody's interest until it's passive (except all of us. lol). As long as it's more work than plugging it into the wall at home, we'll keep doing just that.

    In the meantime, just how many active vibrator's does that translate into? :D

  9. That's LOTS of batteries by dvandok · · Score: 4, Funny
    By carrying a load weighing from 44 to 84 pounds (20 to 38 kg) [...] The electricity [...] can be stored in a lightweight rechargeable battery for later use, greatly reducing the need to haul and use heavy replacement batteries.

    I think that bringing 30 kg in replacement batteries should last me the entire vacation!

  10. Coincidence... by Nevtje(hr · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...that this was posted on the same day as the article about the robotic hand?

    1 + 1 = 2 (say hello to a new era of beach voyeurism)

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  11. not for use in the park by sl4shd0rk · · Score: 3, Funny

    be careful while jogging past another person wearing one with more negative electrons than yours. *ffffZZZZZZZOTTTT* *POOOOM* *smoke smoke*

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    1. Re:not for use in the park by SimilarityEngine · · Score: 2, Funny

      be careful while jogging past another person wearing one with more negative electrons than yours

      I'd be even more worried about people with positive ones. BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

      --
      Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
  12. I'm wondering by Ixne · · Score: 4, Funny

    What are the chances your average /. user can even heft said backpack? (images of futuristic schoolyard-bully style backpack swiping ensue)

  13. Re:why is this new? why a backpack? by Federico2 · · Score: 2, Funny

    why not use wrist- or ankle-mounted generators...?


    Now, shake that ass!
  14. Power *Walking*? by dwater · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sounds more like "Power *Stalking*" to me...

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    Max.
  15. Re:why is this new? why a backpack? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    why not use wrist- or ankle-mounted generators, which get a lot more movement, so presumably the generator could be a lot smaller and lighter?

    Let me put it this way. Which is going to hurt more: A wristwatch dropped onto your foot from a height of three feet, or a 27-inch TV dropped onto your foot from a height of two inches?

    The amount of pain is a crude indicator of how much energy can be obtained.

  16. Resistance is futile... by ddkilzer · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...you will be assimilated! Wait, don't run! We cannot keep up with you!

  17. Re:Uses by Ced_Ex · · Score: 2, Funny

    With all due respect, RTFA. As has been pointed out elsewhere in these comments, the 44-88 pounds is just some arbitrary load whose motion generates the electricity. It can be food, water, contraceptives, whatever you like.

    Whoa.. 88lbs. of contraceptives? Whew, I'll get tired just from carrying them before I actually get a chance to use them.

    --
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  18. A picture of it by Call+Me+Black+Cloud · · Score: 3, Funny


    It took a while but I finally found a picture of it. It doesn't look too bad, and actually does look eco-friendly.