Slashdot Mirror
Austrian Town Sees the Light
pin_gween writes "The Austrian town of Rattenberg (a 10 minute walk from sunlight during the winter) plans to install a mirror on a mountain to redirect sunlight towards the town. The town was built in the winter shadow of Rat Mountain. The plan is to place heliostat mirrors to shine light in several locations around town, where villagers could 'congregate and get sunned up.' The EU is ponying up half the $2.4 million costs. The company installing the mirrors, Bartenbach Lichtlabor GmbH, is contributing $600,000, and hopes other communities will use their technology."
If there's a glitch in focusing, then the people get fried like ants?
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Doesn't this fall into the category of "don't live there?" I'm not saying it wouldn't suck to live in an area without sunlight, but to knowingly move into said area, and then use taxpayer's money (correct me if I'm wrong, I'm assuming EU money = EU taxpayer's money) to change that... in the tone of millions... just seems stupid. It just seems that our global community should spend $ on better things than trying to cram people into every possible nook and cranny on earth!
During peacetime, it brings light to the people, but if war is declared - instant Archimedes Death Ray! :D
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a) was badly positioned in the first place;
b) has existed as such for hundreds of years without blowing up, dying or otherwise falling off the edge of the planet without this winter sun;
What about EU funds for my city - it's a bit chilly in winter. Has been for the last 5000 years. Everyone there knew it was chilly in winter and it hasn't blown up or fallen off the edge of the world because of this winter chill. I think the EU should pay for some weird underground heating to recompense us for this winter horror. Oh and a massive umbrella - it tends to rain a bit here.
Other than that - 'tis a cool piece of tech.
No, but if somebody could find a 'mirror'... ;D
Sorry, couldn't resist.
...that the mirror companies decision to pay for some of the cost will reflect well on them over time.
Seems like the younguns catch on quick. If you don't like living there, then don't. Problem solved. Seems like they're better off than all the folks near the arctic circle, but you don't see/hear them complaining...
So once again the government/PTBs are footing the bill for people too lazy to move. *cough* New Orleans *cough* Florida *cough*
Besides, a few "lawn sized" patches of light aren't going to make the place any less bleak during the winter months...it might blind some folks looking in the wrong direction, though. Or did I miss the part where they add in some kind of diffusing lens?
The way things seem to be headed (based on TFA), just wait a few years. Give the old folks time to die off, and the younger group time to get fed up and leave. $2,400,000 saved.
This is in Europe, not USA. You can't sue the pants of anyone here, especially not for your own stupidity.
My other comment is funny
A while ago there was some research into giant tinfoil equipped satellites which could redirect sunlight onto the earth during darkness. Applications included agricultural (think world's biggest hydroponic setup) and emergency situations requiring 24hr illumination.
I don't know what happened, however between this and Solar Power Satellites transmitting solar generated electricity to earth via microwave I wonder if the research has hurricane implications.
That is, if they could construct an enormous sun-reflecting hurricane death-ray which could be projected/reflected into the eyes of hurricanes, or over oceans to heat the air/water before Hurricanes can form.
Playing with weather... Won't that annoy the hippies!
Indy Media Watch-Proctologist of the Internet
Barrow, Alaska residents say they tend to sleep more during the long months of round-the-clock dark. The sun sets in Barrow on Friday at 1:40 p.m. and doesn't rise again until Jan. 23 at 1:01 p.m.
Diana Martin is an Inupiat Eskimo and a lifelong Barrow resident. She says it's much easier to start the day when Barrow receives round-the-clock daylight in summer.
This was on the BBC News website two weeks ago, in fairness atleast can we see the news when it happens
"WebTV: bringing the Internet into the shallow end of the gene pool since 1995" - Martin Bishop
actually simpsons did the complete opposite, go on mark me informative ive earned it.
the Austrian variety of kangaroo's live deep deep underground in dark cold caverns, they'll be alright.
Last January news.telegraph had an article about this that featured kind of a map on how the mirrors will be positioned.
I live in a country neighboring Austria. When the mirror is up I definitively will pay a visit and spend between 5 and 100 EUR in the town. Just because I and my family like trips. And, if we like it, we might return.
Why build the Eiffel tower? Why build the statue of liberty (and give the ugly thing away?) Why were the funny looking Gaudi buildings built? Why did Linus do it? This list can get pretty long but the common factor is that at the beginning nobody really knew if it really was a good idea.
The truly strange thing is that this mirror thingy is referred to as a technology. Isn't that like calling a hamburger gastronomy?
I hadn't the slightest objection to his spending his time planning massacres for the bourgeoisie... (P.G. Wodehouse)
Is Wyle E. Coyote and a giant "Acme" mirror.
Unintended consequences ensue.
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattenberg_(Tirol)
The article says that Rattenberg is famous for its glass-processing industry.
Spelling mistakes: My is english spoken not tongue of mother.