Light from Rubbish.

[imatfaal]

I know we have discussed this before, but for those of you who haven't read some of the stories of this remarkable invention.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23536914

 

There is something inspirational and heartwarming about such a simple idea revolutionising so many lives.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liter_of_Light

[Phi for All]

Truly remarkable. This is something that could only come about this way, since business is rarely interested in developing such products. Great ideas that make little money often wither on the vine.

 

Maybe if we adopted altruism as a global currency, our economy might change for the better. This humble guy will affect millions of people with his gift, and I think he deserves more than recognition.

[imatfaal]

i have got involved in a few micro-funding initiatives - with no prospect of any repayment other than satisfaction; it's a truly gratifying way of spending money and far more rewarding than giving to charity.

 

I know what you mean about him deserving more than recognition and he does - but, in a warped way, I feel that would taint the magnificence of his achievement. The fact that all he has received is the knowledge that he has improved the lives of millions is somehow special. It is like the old olympic athletes - only much more so for Alfredo; these athletes would wow the world with their prowess and on Monday morning would take their gold medal into work to show their mates. An English love of bathos

[swansont]

I had blogged about this, and noticed the effect one day a few weeks ago when I had a water bottle in the side pocket of a duffel. I noticed that I could see inside the pocket because of the effect (a deck prism does the same thing) and it reminded me of this. Ingenuity is everywhere, especially if corporate profit isn't the goal.

 

As I pointed out in the post, you could do something like this for a playhouse out in your back yard, if you have a back yard.

[Phi for All]

I know what you mean about him deserving more than recognition and he does - but, in a warped way, I feel that would taint the magnificence of his achievement. The fact that all he has received is the knowledge that he has improved the lives of millions is somehow special.

 

I agree that what he's done and how he feels about it is magnificent. I wasn't implying that someone should shower him with money, but I'd at least prefer it be called the Moser Light instead of the Solar Bottle Bulb. I'm glad there are organizations that are bringing this to all parts of the world, and I'm sure Alfredo Moser is just interested in the relief it will bring, but I think his name should be attached to the device for eternity. I think, to the millions of people just like Moser this device is helping, it will bring hope as well as light.

[StringJunky]

I know what you mean about him deserving more than recognition and he does - but, in a warped way, I feel that would taint the magnificence of his achievement. The fact that all he has received is the knowledge that he has improved the lives of millions is somehow special. It is like the old olympic athletes - only much more so for Alfredo; these athletes would wow the world with their prowess and on Monday morning would take their gold medal into work to show their mates. An English love of bathos

 

I am touched in a similar way by Frederick Scott Archer who invented the photographic wet plate process.

 

"Frederick Scott Archer made what was, arguably, one of the most important contributions to the development of photography in the first twenty years of its existence.

Having presented his process free to the world, he died six years later in relative poverty and is today, unfortunately, little remembered or honoured for his work and his genius" http://www.samackenna.co.uk/fsa/FSArcher.html

[imatfaal]

 

I am touched in a similar way by Frederick Scott Archer who invented the photographic wet plate process.

 

"Frederick Scott Archer made what was, arguably, one of the most important contributions to the development of photography in the first twenty years of its existence.

Having presented his process free to the world, he died six years later in relative poverty and is today, unfortunately, little remembered or honoured for his work and his genius" http://www.samackenna.co.uk/fsa/FSArcher.html

 

Exactly - Charles Goodyear - the man at the centre of the modern discovery of vulcanized rubber never had the success he deserved (the company was only named in his honour many years later). The man himself that realised he was not a businessman and had no luck with patents and wrote in his diary

 

"In reflecting upon the past, as relates to these branches of industry, the writer is not disposed to repine, and say that he has planted, and others have gathered the fruits. The advantages of a career in life should not be estimated exclusively by the standard of dollars and cents, as is too often done. Man has just cause for regret when he sows and no one reaps.”

 

That last thought is incredibly powerful - and says something about all those vocations that may not see direct results of their labours; perhaps too many teachers who get little credit for their students' achievements, the above examples of the unsung and unlucky inventor, and perhaps even the pure scientist who slogs away at the hard questions only to be told by government that his/her work has no direct monetisable value and thus will not continue to be supported.

 

I had blogged about this, and noticed the effect one day a few weeks ago when I had a water bottle in the side pocket of a duffel. I noticed that I could see inside the pocket because of the effect (a deck prism does the same thing) and it reminded me of this. Ingenuity is everywhere, especially if corporate profit isn't the goal.

 

As I pointed out in the post, you could do something like this for a playhouse out in your back yard, if you have a back yard.

 

I knew i had read it here - I searched and searched and couldn't find it - should have realised it was in Swans on Tea. Could you dig out a link? IIRC you linked to a great article which in turn linked to some other interesting, if not so high profile, projects.

[StringJunky]

 

"...... Man has just cause for regret when he sows and no one reaps.”

 

That last thought is incredibly powerful.

 

Indeed. For someone to present something that can add to the corpus of human knowledge and for it to be later ignored or lost is a great tragedy.The highest accolade for ones thoughts and ideas is for them to be manifested by others and not, in my mind, personal material reward.

Edited August 14, 2013 by StringJunky

[swansont]

 

 

I knew i had read it here - I searched and searched and couldn't find it - should have realised it was in Swans on Tea. Could you dig out a link? IIRC you linked to a great article which in turn linked to some other interesting, if not so high profile, projects.

 

I also linked to the gravity light project

http://blogs.scienceforums.net/swansont/archives/12949

[pears]

I remember this story. It's really cool, like the clockwork radio only more useful and accessible.

 

i have got involved in a few micro-funding initiatives - with no prospect of any repayment other than satisfaction; it's a truly gratifying way of spending money and far more rewarding than giving to charity.

 

Do you mean micro-funding initiatives for things like this? Like niftly little altruistic science research projects? If so could you provide me with more information please as that sounds so interesting

[imatfaal]

I remember this story. It's really cool, like the clockwork radio only more useful and accessible.

 

 

Do you mean micro-funding initiatives for things like this? Like niftly little altruistic science research projects? If so could you provide me with more information please as that sounds so interesting

 

 

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gravitylight-lighting-for-developing-countries

 

This was one - pointed out initially by SwansonT's blog as linked in the above message

[pears]

Thanks! That site looks awesome!