I don’t think are many who wouldn’t agree that plugging yourself or to be more precise your laptop into a wall on a regular basis is not ideal, not these days when we have the technology as they say.
Now here’s an interesting idea. How about recharging your laptop battery with your feet? No kidding!
The YoGen MAX is designed to be easy to operate and allow you greater freedom of movement with your laptop as you can take the charging device with you wherever you go.
Only problem is you can’t actually go out and buy it yet as the company are only taking orders from distributors and wholesale purchasers at the moment but maybe we’ll find ourselves sitting next to someone pumping one of these things pretty soon.
Yes that’s right. It sounds almost archaic doesn’t it but what you have to do is press your foot up an down on a springy, suspended self returning pedal which apparently will generate enough power to charge up your lappie.
“This design allows for extended operation at the required wattage without significant user fatigue” says the marketing blurb on the easy energy website.
I just can’t quite see myself sitting in a coffee shop somewhere in town and pumping my foot up and down under the table though, it just doesn’t seem cool does it.
For me I just know I would soon become distracted and pretty bored with pressing a pedal, unless I was desperate for some life of course. I can also imagine it would be a tad tiring after a while.
To overcome the problem of user fatigue the YoGen MAX offers the “option of a built in back up bank of rechargeable AA batteries”. You’ve got to smile haven’t you?
The thing itself is not too cumbersome to carry around which is good, it folds up into a “book sized package” for portability. You don’t have to worry if you have exceptionally large feet either, when unfolded the gadget can accommodate any shoe size.
You must be wondering how it works, I know I was. Well the thing contains too “hearts” based on a “unique proprietary, extremely slim alternator connected to a high ratio micro-transmission”. Ok then! That’ just about explains it.
Still, befuddled or not, maybe it will be the next in thing, who knows! The YoGen MAX is being touted as the “first truly viable manpowered charger of its kind”. It may also be the last too.
One thing is sure, the more ways and options we have of charging up our laptops, netbooks and notebooks the better. I’m all for it and yes I will probably buy one just in case I’m ever stuck.
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Sweet idea – I would buy one if it was under £40