FutureWire - futurism and emerging technology

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

The Kid-Powered Water Pump

The "Playpump" is being used to pump fresh water in some remote African villages. What makes the pump special is its unique power source: kids at play.



When children spin on a roundabout, they drive a pump that fills a water tower. Able to pump 1400 liters (nearly 370 gallons) per hour, the Playpump is far more efficient than traditional hand pumps. It's also proof that, in thinking about the future, ingenuity often trumps high technology.

Source: Boing Boing