Slashdot Mirror
Energy-Generating Floors To Power Subway Displays In Tokyo
Jason Sahler writes "When the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) decided to invest in alternative energy sources, it only had to look to its users for the perfect source of energy. Recently the company decided to update their Tokyo Station with a revolutionary new piezoelectric energy generating floor. The system will harvest the kinetic energy generated by crowds to power ticket gates and display systems."
Will I be compensated with lower fares for the reduction of my kinetic & potential energies, or will they just take it as profit?
I can just imagine the batteries draining and the users not familair with the system getting off of a train to find there is no way to exit the gates.
Of course, they'll then stomp their feet in anger - hopefully hard enough to blink the ticket gates functional again.
Ah - innovation.
There's a gorilla from Manilla whose a fella that stinks of vanilla and has salmonella.
SHHHH. The Green Movement is about feeling good, not consuming less.
but you are overlooking the smug factor
Think of how much smug this will release into the atmosphere! The thick, massive smug clouds will certainly cool the Earth by a degree or two.
Is this a totally independent outbreak of imbecility, or is it related to the SD article from ~2002?
This piezoelectric idea is never going to recover the initial cost of construction and installation.
To generate real amounts of power at near zero cost, just let the people walk up the escalator and harness the power of the steps going backwards.
"The ticket will cost 100 yen and 5 jumping jacks."
You're wrong, and to prove it, I'll make a supposition with no factual basis whatsoever: I would bet that the cost to the environment in producing these special devices will be far less than the coal that would have to be fed into a coal power plant to produce the same amount of power.
was there ever any doubt that something involving humans living their entire lives hooked up to machines via tentaclelike hoses *wouldnt* come from japan? :-p
"goodbye and hello, as always" ~Prince Corwin, from Zelazny's Amber series
You would be shocked by the potential of this technology. It has the capacity to replace large amounts of electrical expenses. Much like you, I'd be revolted if they did not make the best use of this technology!
They should install this at Wal-Mart.
How does it hold up against massive quantities of urine?
They're trying to power a subway, not the LHC.
Best "String" Ever!
They should install this at Wal-Mart.
To run the electric scooters?
Wait wait...I have the solution!
;-)
Install some of the piezo-things under the train and have the train roll over the tiles, creating the energy to levitate it!!!
Brilliant!
People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people