I'm really not surprised. The concept shown above is the kind of product a Chinese megafacturer could sell at $400 wholesale. There's no way it would have been half as economical as the XO. OLED and eInk, flexible displays, are about at the stage that LCD computer monitors were in early-to-mid 90s. You see it Popular Science and on the Discovery channel, but it'll be a good decade before it's really prevalent in your home.
And yes, my prognostication may be quite a bit off. But let's face it, they've been demoing this stuff for the last five years and we have only a dozen or so consumer products to show for it. And they sure aren't cheap enough for the average Ugandan 4th grader.
@Markarian: Exactly. I have an XO-1 and it's great for what it is. I'd be totally up for a transflective waterproof tablet like they're talking about, but the dualscreen XO idea just baffled me - it's like they went from trying to make a laptop for under $100 to giving up on that and trying to compete with Apple for the next slickest gadget. #olpcxo2
Actually, we have GPRS in most major cities here in Afghanistan through at least 3 providers, so a tethered cell phone would get them 15kbps download speed for about $40 a month.
From what I can see it seems like they are only stepping down a small bit to increase the rotation of the top shaft making the pedaling somewhat more productive.
But if they added a few more steps they could probably get that top shaft wizzing fast enough to power two or more laptops.
@Bullet77: I am not an engineer, but I am wondering why 2 foot pedals and not one pedal like on my grandmothers old sewing machine, which would seem easier, less shakey and can be powered (if needed) by one foot.
@Curves: The "treadle" is good for power, like driving the needle of a sewing machine, but it can also be very tiring. This set up requires minimal power vs. a treadle.
@Curves: A treadle could be easily implemented, even with the pedal design. I would imagine that the design was based largely on available salvage. A treadle design would also be more difficult with a chain, as it would require a ratcheting sprocket design on the "up take" to avoid hitching (for those slow on the uptake), and possibly introduce more mechanical drag. A belt would work but introduce slippage and "wow" over time, as well as requiring a large flywheel to maintain the high speed necessary in the step-up (as the large iron flywheel on the side of the sewing machine did, or the large wooden wheel of treadle spinning wheels).
@Curves: I'll start from a Singer and see if I could use it as is,
I aim to make it practical and disturb it as least as possible.
I'll post the results
^__^
The origin of the idea is from a while back, when I was considering how to keep my lifestyle in case of some horrific disaster, which would leave us without el. power for indefinite period of time.
Solar power is cool but this came up as the ultimate idea and totally practical, and as you said:
" seem easier, less shakey and can be powered (if needed) by one foot."
so you could take turns and keep it going.
It seams being practical has nothing to do with the engineering degree,
(:though I'm getting mine soon:)
11/04/09
And yes, my prognostication may be quite a bit off. But let's face it, they've been demoing this stuff for the last five years and we have only a dozen or so consumer products to show for it. And they sure aren't cheap enough for the average Ugandan 4th grader.
11/05/09
10/13/09
HUGE HULK legs, that's what...
10/13/09
10/13/09
From what I can see it seems like they are only stepping down a small bit to increase the rotation of the top shaft making the pedaling somewhat more productive.
But if they added a few more steps they could probably get that top shaft wizzing fast enough to power two or more laptops.
10/13/09
10/13/09
10/13/09
10/13/09
I got all I need so it's only the question of when I'll do it.
10/13/09
10/13/09
10/15/09
I aim to make it practical and disturb it as least as possible.
I'll post the results
^__^
The origin of the idea is from a while back, when I was considering how to keep my lifestyle in case of some horrific disaster, which would leave us without el. power for indefinite period of time.
Solar power is cool but this came up as the ultimate idea and totally practical, and as you said:
" seem easier, less shakey and can be powered (if needed) by one foot."
so you could take turns and keep it going.
It seams being practical has nothing to do with the engineering degree,
(:though I'm getting mine soon:)
:) #pedalpoweredolpcbeingtestedina...
10/13/09
OLPC would like to welcome its latest addition to the engineering team, "The Professor" Roy Hinkley, M.A., B.S., Ph.D!
His assistant Gilligan is seen on a prototype of the OLPC charger.
10/13/09
10/13/09
09/18/09
09/18/09
09/18/09
09/18/09
09/18/09
09/18/09
09/18/09
09/18/09
09/18/09
Did he take the Homer Simpson course on Computer Repair/Sculpture?
09/18/09
09/18/09
09/18/09
09/18/09
09/18/09
"I'm curious what OS this has installed? I'm renovating my spaceship and need a new master controller for the spacetime wompulator.
Thanks"
09/18/09
09/18/09