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Or, "As easy as charging up your mobile phone"
Imagine (for whatever reason) you're going on a long bike ride, but your mobile phone is running low on charge. Evidently someone at Nokia thought that the power generated by a dynamo sandwiched between the frame and wheel could do more than illuminate darkness...
http://www.reghardware.com/2010/06/03/nokia_bicycle_charger_...
Comments
Interesting
Don't you just love that term "tree huggers"?
It ranks right up there with "liberals" and must always be accompanied by a sneer.
It's hard not to be righteously indignant when watching a picture of what BP and all those sneering "drill, baby, drill" politicians have wrought.
Have you heard the one about the BP emergency plan that had been filed with the MMS?
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Cell phones are a bane.
In the Chicago suburbs it's already dangerous to drive to or from work, what with all the cell phone users/drivers. If you get anywhere near a high school, the problem is magnified because the cell users are just as likely to be texting while driving.
In the many walking/bike paths, especially in the evening, walkers/joggers have to listen carefully for the nearly silent whirring sound of bikers coming up from behind. Choose the wrong moment to step across the path, and you could be injured. Great to see someone invent a device to cope with the additional power requirements of a bike mounted speakerphone, isn't it?
In the summer of 2005 I was surprised and dismayed to receive a text message from one of my servers at work while I was on vacation. I was sitting on the bench waiting for Old Faithful to erupt. When I went back in 2008, at that same location my phone registered four bars of signal. Is there no escape?
In Ontario...
... and I believe some other parts of Canada, it's now illegal for someone operating a vehicle, to use a hand-held device.
Unfortunately, in some rural areas of Ontario, I've seen quite a few drivers ignoring the law knowing the local roads aren't that heavily patrolled. However, in the cities... it's quite another matter. If I recall correctly, it seems to me that it was a rash of accidents in Toronto that involved driver's texting, that pushed the politicians to finally get off the fence and pass the legislation we now have.
PB
Texting
is probably more dangerous than the average risk, but cell phone usage by itself is no more dangerous than smoking, drinking, eating, talking to a passenger in the vehicle, fiddling with the conrols of a radio or CD player, and especially carrying a passenger in a child seat, since these seats have to be in the back seat these days, and children and babies do demand (and receive) immediate attention from time to time.
Cell phones are just an easy target for hysterical idiots in public offfice who want to be seen as "doing something" about traffic accidents, when it fact the same argument can be made for the police to be completely restricted from using radios or computers while in motion.
Cheers,
Puddin'
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Re: Texting
Greetings
Using a hand held phone or other hand held device while driving is illegal here in the United Kingdom and rightly so. They are highly distracting and can mean you are not watching the traffic and road condditions around you.
Talking to another person in the vehicle can be distracting too, especially if you turn to talk to them! However, they usually have some awareness of what is around the vehicle and will not be surprised if you suddenly stop talking, unlike the person at the other end of the phone who will expect to be told you need to concentrate on the traffic conditions.
If you must use a phone or radio transmitter while in a vehicle, hands free operation is essential.
Brian
Rubbish
No one using a cell phone, or who knows that they are talking to someone on a cell phone, will be astonished if the conversation stops at random moments. In some places, they may be more surprised if the conversation extends for more than a few minutes. It's so common that it's spawned a new class of sight gags in films, in which the person on the phone makes faux electrical static noises when a conversation turns awkward and says with transparent insincerity, "What's that? You're breaking up! I'll call you back!"
There are entire takeaway businesses founded upon the notion of one-handed driving. This is something like the fantasy notion of situating pubs and saloons in business districts and then being shocked, simply shocked, to discover that many of the people who drive away from them are drunk.
At one time (before the rise of power steering) Brodie knobs (also called Suicide knobs or Necker knobs) were a common aftermarket addition to automobile steering wheels, because it made it easier to drive one-handed, or to "lay a brodie" -- causing the auto to spin rapidly around a tight circle.
Cheers,
Puddin'
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
I disagree
Based on one Top Gear test (or was it some other program, liky Mythbusters?..) about using a handheld phone and hands-free one there were results as following:
1)Using a hand-held phone slows your reaction to traffic conditions
2)Using a hands-free phone - doubly so
The reason was suspected to be that if you have a phone in hand you are very much aware you are engaging in something precarious and thus more alert. Hands-free one does not have the luxury of making you so aware and you relax.
Faraway
Big Closet Top Shelf
Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!
Faraway
Big Closet Top Shelf
Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!
Many states also...
ban the use of hand held communications devices while driving. I can't tell you how many police officers I've seen cruising along - using cell phones (why? I ran out of fingers and toes counting, in just a week.) Why do we expect others to obey the laws?
It's no more dangerous than applying eye makeup, while driving down the highway (yes, I've seen that too.)
It's
a nice idea as anything rechargable is good as is clean energy. I however dislike cellphones and more than that I-pods. Too many people ignore reality by sticking on a set of headphones.
Bailey Summers
Hijacked your thread, have they?
I am sorry. It looks as if your thread has been Hijacked and headed off into who knows where. I am supposed to take off on a three day biking trip soon, and it wwould be nice to have a way to charge my phone if needed. At night we plan to ride off the road into the woods and have a no lights camp to mystify the predators. I doubt that I would be using the phone while cycling as one can not hear the bloody thing with the wind in your ears, however.
Much Peace
Khadijah