Bicycle that can solve water problems?
Jun 12th, 2008 by rlsorbe
Water is a critical resource that our planet and it’s inhabitants cannot live without, and yet more than a billion people don’t have access to clean water, and thousands die each day from water-related illnesses. For many, water sources can be miles away from the home and individuals have to walk great distances carrying heavy water vessels each day to survive. In a recent contest hosted by Google and Specialized, Innovate or Die Pedal-Powered Machine Contest, the winning design team created a prototype vehicle that address two main challenges with water in the developing world, sanitation and transportation. This innovation uses simple bicycle mechanics to create an energy efficient bicycle that transports, filters and stores water. The Aquaduct prototype that is aimed at demonstrating a concept and raising awareness around the issues of clean water in developing countries. Using IDEO’s expertise in human-centered design and guidance from experts, the Aquduct team is working to evolve this concept into a viable solution.
Thinking of other design innovation instilled in developing countries to improve quality of life, I’d like to recap on One Laptop Per Child. This program brings computer access to children living in developing countries. As Apple just received the patent to infuse their hand-held and computers with a thin film of solar cells; why not add technology such as this to the One Lap Top Program - because electricity is another challenge for many of these communities.
I’d like to open this topic up to the many innovators who read this blog. Where can we find simple solutions and functional features in design and development that improve our quality of life?