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"Crowd Farm" to Collect Energy?

Cain writes to mention that a couple of MIT students would like to harness the mechanical power of large groups of people. "A Crowd Farm in Boston's South Station railway terminal would work like this: A responsive sub-flooring system made up of blocks that depress slightly under the force of human steps would be installed beneath the station's main lobby. The slippage of the blocks against one another as people walked would generate power through the principle of the dynamo, a device that converts the energy of motion into that of an electric current."

28 of 357 comments (clear)

  1. The people power the city huh? by Kranfer · · Score: 5, Funny

    I love this! If they install something like this on the streets around me I am going to send the electric company a bill for my time to generate their power ... what am I a giant hamster to them?!

    --
    -- Josh
    "Whoopie! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me!" - Pete Conrad
    1. Re:The people power the city huh? by 'nother+poster · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes. Now eat your pellets and back on the giant wheel.

    2. Re:The people power the city huh? by Intron · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think you are on to a better idea. Put the generators in the lines at Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks. It will not only give you something to do while the person in front of you spends 10 minutes ordering a freaking cup of coffee, but also make you feel less guilty about your own double-mocha grande frappaccino.

      --
      Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.
  2. one problem left? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now the only technical problem is getting americans out of their cars...

    1. Re:one problem left? by Assassin+bug · · Score: 2, Funny

      True. And maybe the sidewalk 2.0 will convert their mass to energy!

  3. Rock concerts by techpawn · · Score: 4, Funny

    Use the mosh pit to power the amps! the phrase "Behold the power of ROCK" has more meaning now

    --
    Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what your country did to you
  4. Re:A better idea by whoever57 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just put the people into tanks and give them virtual lives ..... what's that, the Matrix was fiction?

    --
    The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
  5. I have an idea by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    A Crowd Farm in Boston's South Station railway terminal would work like this: A responsive sub-flooring system made up of blocks that depress slightly under the force of human steps

    I have a better idea. Why not make a system that generates energy under the force of collapsing Big Dig tunnel sections?

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
    1. Re:I have an idea by Penguinshit · · Score: 2, Funny

      Or turn the seat cushions into methane collectors...

    2. Re:I have an idea by MikShapi · · Score: 2, Funny

      >> Why not make a system that generates energy under the force of collapsing Big Dig tunnel sections?

      Yep. Stacks up neatly next to selling screenspace on BSODs for advertising.

      Gotta love our new economy.

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      -
  6. a way to harness true limitless energy by NavyNasa · · Score: 5, Funny

    3 to 4 year olds.
    We could power a small coutry if we installed these in pre-schools.

    --
    Space Cadet
  7. Another source opf poswer by link-error · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wow... hook one of those up to my keyboad.... Well, just my delete key would generate a few megawatts of power.

    --
    -Unresolved symbol? Byte me!
    1. Re: Another source opf poswer by veganboyjosh · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wow... hook one of those up to my keyboad.... Well, just my delete key would generate a few megawatts of power.

      Looks like you're well on your way.

  8. Noooo! by timeOday · · Score: 4, Funny

    Quit trying to steal my energy. I'm fat on purpose, you insensitive clod!

  9. Visionary by sakonofie · · Score: 4, Funny

    And while the farm is an urban vision, the dynamo-floor principle can also be applied to capturing energy at places like rock concerts, too. "Greater movement of people could make the music louder," suggests Jurcyzk.
    Truly visionary. I can see it now. [dreamlike swirling effect] Concert Goer A - "I still can't hear the band" Concert Goer B - "Mosh Harder!" ... 70 minutes goes by ... Concert Goes A - "Oh god I can't feel my legs anymore. I need to take a break." Concert Goer B - "I paid 60 dollars for this ticket and drove 200 miles. You are going to mosh whether you like it or not!"
  10. Wool carpets and fuzzy socks by Alzheimers · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why not just install wool carpets, make everyone take their shoes off and walk around in fuzzy socks. Then, they can touch special metal plates to donate their built-up static charge to the grid.

    And for fun, they can make ramps without carpeting, for sliding down. Go back up, build up a charge, discharge and slide down again. I'd be on that all day!

  11. Re:If the tiles sink... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    You had me at sandwich.

  12. Re:But what about the drunks? by Dachannien · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wonder what'll happen when the urination threshhold exceeds the flooring capacity.

    Conduction, followed by screams of pain and barely-suppressed laughter.

  13. just the floors? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I'd think attaching these to the hands of all the MIT students would generate enough up and down motion to power the state.

  14. Re:A better idea by Numbah+One · · Score: 4, Funny

    because most people jump over the turnstiles. :)

  15. Re:Yet another silly energy article by inKubus · · Score: 5, Funny

    I had a great idea like this once. I called it the "Jump to Conclusions Mat".

    --
    Cool! Amazing Toys.
  16. Re:A better idea by rubycodez · · Score: 2, Funny

    no need to chain Arnold, just chain four female clerks from the California State Govenor's Office to each of the turnstile arms, then set loose the Governator.

  17. Re:A better idea by UbuntuDupe · · Score: 5, Funny

    And, more importantly, because, as Confucius say:

    Man who go through turnstile sideways, is going to Bangkok.

  18. Re:Yet another silly energy article by theelectron · · Score: 3, Funny
    I believe there's a quote for this...

    Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
  19. Re:house music all night long by HTTP+Error+403+403.9 · · Score: 4, Funny

    If all the exercise machines were in use 10 hours a day for a year, the gym could generate roughly $183 worth of electricity. At that rate, it would take about 82 years to pay off the initial $15,000 investment.
    Ten years ago, venture capitalists would have jumped all over a money making idea like this.
    --
    I'm not a Troll, it's reverse psychology.
  20. Re:house music all night long by MiniMike · · Score: 5, Funny

    Forget dance clubs- put these in child daycares and you could probably close half the power plants...

  21. Oh no... by jgoemat · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't think anyone in the U.S.A. could stand to lose any weight...

  22. And when the people get tired of walking on sand.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You can use the generated power to run powered walkways for the tired commuters.