Solar Gadgets
To relax I read gadget/product blogs like uncrate.com. It’s a bunch of stuff I can’t buy, but it still amazes me the variety and wonder of things available in the world. One thing that especially interests me is the solar powered gadgets. In Sri Lanka, especially outstation, it is very difficult to find power and I’m often stuck without attachments or whatever. Most of these gadgets are prototypical, but they’re still pretty cool. For examply, Samsung has a (weak) solar-powered phone called the Solar Guru. There are also elegant solar storing bags, a $30 solar flashlight and rather expensive tables.
Personally, one of my fondest hopes is that one day Sri Lanka will develop to the point where I can order these things online without getting mules to courier various things from abroad. But the Solar Guru itself is available in India for like $60. It takes 1 hour of sun for 5-10 minutes of talk, so not great, but there are times when you’re way out and you’d be happy for that. There is always the solar bag option. Those are still expensive though, and the ones that charge laptops look straight out of Tron.
If there’s anything Sri Lanka has no shortage of, however, it’s sun. I hope this sorta technology matures soon. I especially like stuff like the Sun Jar, an elegant LED lamp that charges itself and then glows at night. For starters I suppose we could just paint our roofs white.
The Sun Jar is your average ($10 per six pack) garden solar light in a jam bottle. clever.
I agree, there are some really cool ideas/products out there. Many work really great but there are just as many that need to produce more power.