Comments on: Human energy harvesting--a very silly idea

Glaskowsky analyzes the latest, and least, idea in alternative energy.

[manusmriti]

This could be a boon for a power-starving world

I think, this technology can be a blessing for high-population, power-starving nations like India and China.

[Peter N. Glaskowsky]

Not a few milliwatts at a time.

Solar and wind power offer higher power plus higher efficiency... and don't press human beings into service as draft animals.

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[coop6]

"And then those compounds have to be kept cool and transported large distances, then cooked and eaten. By comparison, traditional electric power generation is hugely more efficient."

You are neglecting a few things
1) Those coumpounds (food) has to be cooled and transported large distances anyways. Why not reclaim some of that energy into a usuable state?

2) Just because people are required to "exert" extra energy does not necessarily mean they will eat more ( A lot of people in the U.S, myself included take in more then what I need now) Again why not reclaim some of that energy into a usuable state?

3) Economically if everyone began to eat more food pricing would go up, and in reverse consumption would begin to decrease until it stabilizies around a certain point. The system does have feed back. (So infact Human Power Generation would solve two issues: Energy Crisis and Heatlh Problems due to being overweight).

4) Don't critize the floor or backpack idea just because you think it is "Inappropriate" and instead support research in the area of Human Power Generation. There is only a finite amount of fossil fuels left and we must focus on alternatives and-or focus on supplementing fossil fuels energy.


Lastly, you argu that 45 milliwatts is insignificant but you again are neglecting that there is in fact more then 1 person in the world. If you harnessed 45mW from 6.5 billion peope that would come out to be ~292.5MegaWatts, again if you harvested other movements and increased efficiency you could conceivably produce enough power to make the whole process worth while and economically competive (Espically since the prices in fossil fuels and natural gas are going to continue to rise).

Also take note that my senior project runs on 45 mW. And the microprocessor I am using runs on the order of uW (very slow clock ~2 MHz). So again 45 mW is not insignificant espically for a digital system.

[gehsaugeneinzitronen]

you are right about the part with the soldier and the yo-yo power generator, but that is all. you don't seem to understand that human power can solve more than one problem. you dont even soom to understand that it can solve anything. here are the big things it solves. dependance on fossil fuels, and obesity. it also teaches people to apreciate electricity.ofcourse there are still some minor flaws, like sustained elecrticity, and fat lazy people not wanting to do anything, and elderly and handicapped people having difficulies, but these will be worked out