SOCCKET: Play Soccer, Harvest Energy, Save the World

What if you could take an everyday activity that the whole world engages in and turn that activity into a personal energy harvester? Enter SOCCKET. A simple low-tech-high-tech solution to fill a small part of our growing global energy appetites...and in a super fun way. Nothing wrong with engaging in environmental conservation through sport, play, and physical activity. The uses for families living in poverty in developing nations are evident.  

Coach said I was the best player on the other team
because I kept passing them the ball.

Core77 reported, "The SOCCKET is a durable, energy-harnessing soccer ball. Using Uncharted Play's patent pending technology, the pendulum-like mechanism inside the SOCCKET captures the kinetic energy generated during normal play, and stores it in the ball for later use as an off-grid power source. Just 30 minutes of play can power a simple LED lamp for 3 hours."

SOCCKET completed a successful round on Kickstarter (met funding goal on March 28, 2013), and is in production now. The mass-produced version of the ball is the brainchild of Uncharted Play, Inc., a social enterprise, founded by two of the original inventors, Harvard students Jessica O. Matthews and Julia C. Silverman. The company is in the process of developing a line of sport-related items that collect energy including footballs, jump ropes, and skateboards.

BusinessWeek reported that "thirty minutes on the field captures enough energy to power a small light for three hours and may help people in developing nations replace kerosene, a leading cause of respiratory illness and fires."

This idea can be applied to numerous sport and play related items/activities. And that is super cool democratech in action. Low-cost simple solutions to global energy problems where individuals can personally contribute to conservation and energy management...while scoring goals...I am in. 

It would be swell to see this company partnered with One Laptop Per Child. Provide each child with a computer and a soccer ball: develop the mind and the body in true kinesiological fashion. The Greeks called it arete, reaching one's highest potential. These groups could partner with the growing Sport for Peace movement and make some inroads to improving life outcomes for children in developing world nations, especially in post-war regions.

An interesting article on sports and environmental conservation can be found at The Sport Journal.



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Image: Repost from Core77.