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Cheap, Printed Solar-Powered LEDs Could Change 1.5 Billion Lives

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License_to_iLL
11/03/09

In reply to Cheap, Printed Solar-Powered LEDs Could Change 1.5 Billion Lives
I've been a reader of giz for a while now but this motivated me to sign up.
I think it's great that even though this isn't the most advanced technology (yet) people are still willing to get behind it. #printedsolarled
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Rosa Golijan promoted this comment License_to_iLL was starred License_to_iLL was unstarred

Rosa Golijan
11/03/09

@License_to_iLL: Welcome on board and happy commenting. #printedsolarled
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Gordonium
11/03/09

@License_to_iLL: Don't forget to tag your comments with #RosaRocks ;) #printedsolarled
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Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!!
11/03/09

In reply to Cheap, Printed Solar-Powered LEDs Could Change 1.5 Billion Lives
I too, can get behind such an awesome idea of self-contained illumination for the reasons stated in this article, as well as the seemingly infinite constructive uses that can come from this.

Rosa, I have a question:

Do you know if this can be invested in, and if so, which company is behind this seemingly "cutting edge" idea? #printedsolarled
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Edited by Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!! at 11/03/09 8:58 PM

Rosa Golijan
11/03/09

@Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!!: Based on what I'm reading, the research is being done through Denmark's Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy.

PS: Yikes, that's quite the username. #printedsolarled
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Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!!
11/03/09

@Rosa Golijan: Thanks for that tidbit of info : )

P.S Long story. Let's just say that I don't appreciate OP-EDs with no clear allowance of reasonable discussion (especially less respect when abitrary and capreciousness ensues afterwards.)

That said, I appreciate MOST of the Gawker writing and editorial staff. The username extension is nothing more than a retort in protest.

It's actually very rare of me, actually (as many Gawker readers can attest.) #printedsolarled
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Joseph Lau
11/03/09

In reply to Cheap, Printed Solar-Powered LEDs Could Change 1.5 Billion Lives
I have my reservations on technologies that can change lives in developing worlds. At the developing countries poor state in terms of just basic infrastructure (sanitation, water, etc.) how are they going to manage all the garbage they end up producing if the developed countries begin introducing these wonderful technologies to them? Will this, and a lot of other great ideas, be a 'too-fast-too-soon' phenomenon? #printedsolarled
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Gann
11/03/09

@Joseph Lau: 'too-fast-too-soon' is a valid concern, although less valid than it would have been a decade or two ago. 'too-little-too-late' sounds more like it. Surely though, something like this will do more good than harm? #printedsolarled
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Joseph Lau
11/18/09

@Gann: We have to look at the whole of the situation though. For example, some nations in Africa isn't too worried about electricity or lack thereof just because they really haven't developed the dependence of it as we developed nations have. They don't particularly need light at night because their working habits are that they just stop working when the sun goes down and wake up when the sun goes up. That same economy had been successful for thousands of years before even the candle was first used. I really don't think the whole of Africa would drastically increase in productivity overnight if this kind of technology were to be introduced to them.

I'm all for them learning to use new technologies, but at the right time. I would say help the developing nations sustain their basic infrastructures like water, sanitation and electricity supply first, then move on to roads and buildings, then we can talk more about new technologies and the conveniences that they provide. #printedsolarled
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Gann
11/18/09

@Joseph Lau: You make good points, but you are contradicting yourself a little. You say they don't need electricity, then go on to say we need to "help them sustain their basic infrastructures like water, sanitation and electricty supply first..." This innovation addresses that last point rather well.

Also, I would argue that production would, in fact, start increasing overnight.
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Panzer23
11/03/09

In reply to Cheap, Printed Solar-Powered LEDs Could Change 1.5 Billion Lives
Nice post, if only there were more innovative people working on these types of things instead of military strength, then we might be getting somewhere. #printedsolarled
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tamoko
11/03/09

In reply to Cheap, Printed Solar-Powered LEDs Could Change 1.5 Billion Lives
Great post Rosa... this is the kind, like solar charging cell phones, and micro loans, that will really help make a difference in people's lives. #printedsolarled
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Rosa Golijan
11/03/09

@tamoko: Thanks. And I absolutely agree. This is my favorite sort of innovation to read about. #printedsolarled
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ekap
11/03/09

In reply to Cheap, Printed Solar-Powered LEDs Could Change 1.5 Billion Lives
They could start putting these on road signs, granted they're bright enough in mass, and save a lot with the lighting of them. #printedsolarled
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TheLostVikings R.O.A.C.H.
11/04/09

@ekap: When I lived in Japan I noticed that a lot of the LED based traffic lights had solar panels on them. #printedsolarled
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