Friday, 13 September 2013

Why EReaders Make More Sense For The Developing World

In a dusty schoolroom in Kade, a small town 75 miles from Accra, the capital of Ghana, 40-odd children sit on rickety wooden benches, in front of equally rickety desks. Kade has a population of 16,500, and its main business is the local mine: a rich source of gold and diamonds. These children don’t see a lot of the mine’s produce, but in front of them , on those rickety desks, sits something unexpected and of potentially greater value in the long term: brand new e-readers.
Since 2010, Worldreader.org, a not-for-profit organisation, has been distributing e-readers to schools in Africa and Europe. The project was born out of a 2009 family holiday. Seeing a locked library building in a small town, founder David Risher realised it was cheaper and more effective to supply e-readers than paper books in the sort of quantities that are required for education. Once the gadgets have reached their destination, it costs almost nothing to keep them stocked with educational materials, and teachers consider them less distracting than laptops or tablet computers. They can also be used to display local material, including newspapers, health and voting information.
In October 2010, Worldreader delivered 550 3G and Wi-Fi Kindles to primary- and high-school children in the Kade region – one for every child in six schools. They trained the teachers to use the devices, and the teachers trained the kids. Pre-installed on the e-readers were public domain study books, as well as novels provided free by local and international publishers. And as of this summer, Worldreader has put over 662,008 ebooks into the hands of 4,300 children in sub-Saharan Africa – and research shows they now read more, and read better. As one teacher in Kade noted: “Before, it was difficult to get books. Now we will have as many as we want.”
Source:psfk.com

Friday, 28 June 2013

ANTI-CHEATING WEDDING RING BRANDS MARITAL STATUS ON WEARER’S FINGER

How do you keep married folks from taking off their wedding rings so they can pretend to be single? For the creator of the Anti-Cheating Ring, branding their marital status on the finger is the answer.
The Anti-Cheating Ring is a titanium wedding ring that has a negative engraving on the inside. After wearing the ring for a while, it leaves a mark that reads ‘I’m Married’ on the user’s ring finger. With that brand on their ring finger, married people may become hesitant to simply slip the ring off to pretend they’re single.
The ring is currently selling on The Cheeky for $550.


Sunday, 23 June 2013

Inkless Pen Never Needs To Be Replaced

German engineering brings back a long forgotten and more sustainable method for making writing implements.

The Beta Inkless Pen is a revolutionary new example of German precision engineering, this particular pen does away with the need for ink completely and is a shining example of function and form.
Instead of having to sharpen your pencil all the time, or refill your pen with ink, and or discard it for a new one – all of which have negative connotations for the environment – the inkless pen provides an eco-friendly option. Bringing back an age-old technique of writing with metal, the pen’s tip is made of lead and leaves a grey line in it’s wake that won’t smudge or erase.
The pen can be used on most paper surfaces, at any temperature  and in any weather condition, making it a durable and versatile option for a pen that is ready to use in any circumstance. There is also a keychain version available, giving you peace of mind that you have the tool to document your best ideas as and whenever and wherever they happen.

               Continue Reading...http://www.jzpen.com/products/the-beta-inkless-pen

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

TEAR OFF FLASH DRIVES-VERY INNOVATIVE

GIGS2GO is a small set of ‘Tear and Share’ USB drives, about the same size as a credit card, that can be torn off and used or handed out to others. Yanko Design notes that the four-pack of thumb drives is made from 100% post-consumer molded paper pulp with no plastic.
You can tear off an individual 1GB drive like a phone number on a flyer for a cat-sitter. Designed by Kurt Rampton and BOLTgroup, the drives allow for quick, on-the-go data transfer of large files that can’t be emailed.
Source. PSFK.COM

Monday, 18 March 2013

Nike Vapor Laser Talon with a revolutionary 3D printed plate



The quest for acceleration and speed has long been the north star for athletes across sport, and in order to excel in the game of football, the mastery of these skills is seen in the 40-yard dash. Played out on a national stage in Indianapolis, pro scouts clock 40-yard dash times in order to assess and translate these measurements to a football athlete’s game-time ability. 

Today, Nike Football debuted the Nike Vapor Laser Talon with a revolutionary 3D printed plate that will help football athletes perform at their best. In a version built to master the 40, the Nike Vapor Laser Talon weighs a mere 5.6 oz. and is specifically designed to provide optimal traction on football turf and to help athletes maintain their “drive stance” longer. 

With more than 40 years of athlete insights and innovation across sport, Nike designers worked with elite trainers within Nike SPARQ as well as long time partner and gold medal sprinter Michael Johnson to understand how he and his team at Michael Johnson Performance train football athletes for the 40. According to MJP Performance Director, Lance Walker, an athlete’s “Zero Step” is a pivotal point that can make or break an athlete’s 40 time. In the moments before that first step hits the turf, his propulsion and acceleration speed are determined. At that point, it’s all about geometry.

“Nike’s new 3D printed plate is contoured to allow football athletes to maintain their drive position longer and more efficiently, helping them accelerate faster through the critical first 10 yards of the 40,” said Johnson. “Translated to the game of football, mastering the Zero Step can mean the difference between a defensive lineman sacking the quarterback or getting blocked.”

The plate of the cleat is crafted using Selective Laser Sintering technology (SLS). It is the sport’s first 3D-printed plate. SLS is a manufacturing technique that uses high-powered lasers to fuse small particles of materials into a three-dimentional shape. Through proprietary material selection, Nike was able to prototype a fully functional plate and traction system within a fraction of the traditional timeframe and at a fraction of the weight. The SLS process allows for the engineering and creation of shapes not possible in traditional manufacturing processes. It also provides the ability to make design updates within hours instead of months to truly accelerate the innovation process to never seen speeds.  

“SLS technology has revolutionized the way we design cleat plates – even beyond football – and gives Nike the ability to create solutions that were not possible within the constraints of traditional manufacturing processes,” said Shane Kohatsu, Director of Nike Footwear Innovation.

The way athletes train continues to evolve, and Nike continues to push the boundaries of innovation even further. By listening to the voice of the athlete, Nike is able to evolve footwear, apparel and equipment to help athletes achieve their highest potential.

Source:psfk.com

AUDI CONCEPT REPLACES TRADITIONAL TAILLIGHTS WITH MINI TV SCREENS


A vehicle’s rear tail light indicates to other road users that the driver is braking or turning, but what if it could signal more? Audi‘s ‘Swarm’ concept proposes turning the rear of a vehicle into an OLED display, capable of communicating more information.
The external light design could react to the approaching driver, following his or her movements and highlighting the main contours of the vehicle or the door handle. When the driver has entered, restrained OLED lighting would become active inside.
A vehicle’s rear end could be turned into a large, continuous light surface, with innumerable small points of flickering light. Their movements follow the movements of the vehicle, so when a right turn is made, they flow to the right, when the car brakes, they flow rapidly forwards, and the faster the car goes, the faster they move. This would enable the following driver to always see right away what the car in front is doing.
Gizmag notes that ‘Swarm’ could potentially be a hazard by distracting other drivers and reports that a spokesperson for the UK’s Automobile Association said: “The Swarm is a delightful concept design but under current lighting regulations it is probably best saved for aquariums or art galleries.” You can check out the OLED technology in the video using the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=cnQRTvwuE8k
Source:psfk.com

SOLAR-POWERED MOBILE TRUCK COULD CHANGE AFRICAN HEALTHCARE

Vehicle equipped with remarkable range of facilities could revolutionize treatment in rural parts of the sub-Sahara.
At the back of the truck is a small soundproof booth with a chair, light and pair of headphones. Outside the door sits a “screening memory audiometer” with a laptop and printer. This is an ear clinic on wheels, designed to reach the far-flung corners of Africa.
“Before they go to school, children are tested so we know their specific needs,” says Kea’ Modimoeng, of Samsung, unveiling the $250,000 (£168,000) vehicle in Cape Town, South Africa, this week. “If David has a hearing difficulty, let him sit at the front of the class instead of the back, where he’s not able to take part in the lesson.”
The ear clinic is just one element of what is billed as Africa’s first solar-powered mobile health centre. The seven-metre truck also contains a fully equipped eye and blood clinic and a dental surgery. Its target is the six in 10 people in sub-Saharan Africa who live in rural areas, often lacking the time and money to travel long distances to reach health services.
Patients will be screened for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay and cataracts. There will be an emphasis on health education and encouraging tests as a preventative measure.

In the next 10 weeks, Samsung plans to add a mother-and-child clinic capable of 4D ultrasound scans and delivering babies.
“Healthcare and education are the key challenges in Africa,” Modimoeng says. “The challenges are huge. In Africa our existing healthcare system is overcrowded. We are trying to ease that burden.”
On Wednesday, the truck was parked on Grand Parade, where thousands gathered to hear Nelson Mandela’s first speech from the city hall after his release from prison in 1990. It was among innovations promoted by Samsung, the South Korean giant better known for mobile phones and televisions, under the slogan, “Built for Africa“.
The mobile health centre was constructed in Johannesburg, painted in Samsung’s corporate blue and white, and included, under an awning, a TV screen. Modimoeng said public information videos would be shown to communities as they queued. Inside, many of the products are made by specialist manufacturers or pharmaceutical companies.
At the front is the eye and blood clinic, with a reclining chair for the patient, a sink and mirror, and hi-tech equipment including a blood analyser, spectacle repair kit and “Reichert PT100 portable NCT” – a non-contact tonometry test to measure pressure inside the eye. It is likely to have a staff of four.
The facility would enable testing for HIV, malaria and numerous other conditions, Modimoeng says. “You can get blood test results instantly. They can print a prescription for you.”
Next comes the dental clinic, much like any other with its familiar chair and overhead light. It also has an x-ray unit, air motor, mobile suction unit, water distiller and needle incinerator. It will have three staff.
At the rear is the ear clinic, expected to have two staff.
This is the first of its kind, Modimoeng says, and the ambition is to reach 1 million people in Africa by 2015. “We are scaling up with Africa in mind. We want to collaborate with governments. The intent is there from various countries.”
But he admitted that solar power alone is still not enough. “This uses a lot of energy. The solar power charges the lighting, TV and so on. The rest relies on an inbuilt generator using unleaded fuel or a power plug. It’s a step in the right direction and, as time unfolds, we are looking at getting equipment that uses less energy.”
But can the health centre withstand Africa’s notorious potholed, bone-jarring roads? “Definitely,” Modimoeng insists.
Also on show at the Samsung forum, where the Guardian was among 200 invited media guests, was asolar-powered internet school – a 12-metre container that can accommodate at least 21 pupils, each with a laptop, and has 24 solar panels providing nine hours of power a day.
Fully charged, the batteries last three to five days. Since their launch in 2011, the $100,000 schools have begun operating in Angola, Botswana, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa, helping an estimated 7,000 children. Nearby was a solar power generator that can be connected to conventional classrooms. Samsung says that, on average, less than 25% of rural areas in Africa have access to electricity.
Leonard Tleane, smart schools solutions provider for the company, says solar energy is a growing part of the solution. “The costs are definitely coming down and most of corporate South Africa is moving into solar power. You walk into the townships these days and almost every house has a solar geyser.”

Source: PSFK.COM


Sunday, 10 March 2013

INFLATABLE TENT TURNS INTO CONCRETE WITH WATER


The Concrete Canvas Shelter is a large inflatable tent made from a unique and highly functional material. It’s made from a canvas-like fabric that’s flexible and lightweight. However, when water is added to the material, it hardens into concrete.
The tent was created by a U.K-based company, which was originally developed for military use and also in an event of a natural disaster where sturdy shelters need to be resurrected quickly.
In test conditions, the inflatable canvas shelter was able to be erected by two people without any training in under an hour. Once the concrete hardens, the building is ready to be used in 24 hours.
The shelter comes delivered flat-packed in airtight and water- and rot-proof sacks. Once the electric fan is activated, it’s able to blow up the the plastic structure. Once the tent is fully inflated, you can simply hose down the outside with water to turn the canvas fabric into a solid material.
Watch the video below for a demonstration.
                                http://youtu.be/Vb1pdvvoVoQ

Better still visit the websites gallery at:

http://www.concretecanvas.co.uk/Images/ccsgallery/index.html

Monday, 11 February 2013

HOW INTEL HELPS STEPHEN HAWKING COMMUNICATE WITH THE WORLD

Happy Birthday Stephen Hawking! Although Dr. Hawking has been paralyzed for decades by Lou Gehrig’s disease, it hasn’t stopped him from continuing his research into uncovering the secrets of the cosmos and earning the title as one of the world’s top scientists. And since 1997, one of Hawking’s many birthday gifts have come from Intel; every few years, Intel builds Dr. Hawking a custom-made computer that helps him communicate with the world.
When Hawking turned 71 on January 8th, Intel announced the company will develop a new system that will give him the ability to communicate faster, even as his disease progresses. Hawkings controls his current computer through cheek movements; the movement triggers an infrared switch attached to his glasses that allows him to select the characters of individual words on a screen in front of him. The process allows Hawkings to create a word a letter at a time, which is inefficient even with an iPhone-like autocomplete feature. Once he has constructed a sentence at about one word per minute, a digital voice synthesizer can speak it for him, allowing him to give lectures and talks.

Hawking recently reached out to Intel to develop a more efficient way to talk, and CTO Justin Rattner jumped on the case with Intel’s latest gesture and facial-recognition technology. Showcased at CESearlier this month, Intel’s perceptual computing initiative is developing new ways to interact with computers using speech, eye-tracking, gestures and facial expressions.
By measuring Hawking’s mouth and eyebrow movements, as well as using intensive facial recognition and a better word predictor, Rattner hopes to increase Hawking’s language composition speed up to ten times its current pace.

Once developed, Hawking’s computer will be an example of the cutting edge assistive tech that is central to the future of computing. Devices are increasingly becoming more natural to use, and Intel’s perceptual computing initiative is at the forefront of this trend. While beneficial to everyone, the increasingly easy to use tech will be especially exciting for the elderly and disabled, who may not have the full range of motion currently required to operate modern devices.

An excellent example of how this technology is currently being deployed can be seen in the EyeWriter, a pair of glasses that track eye movement. Tony Quan, (aka TEMPT ONE) an LA based graffiti writer, was also paralyzed by Lou Gehrig’s disease, but like Dr. Hawking, still has a passion for his work.
How will the move towards more natural interaction continue to evolve? Continue reading on iQ by Intel.


To read more inspiring stories about how technology is unleashing the world’s human potential to create a better future visit iQ by Intel.

Saturday, 9 February 2013

The MOVEO is a Lightweight Electric Scooter that Folds Up For Easy Storage

Electric scooters are great for urban travel, but what happens if you have very limited storage space? The folks at Antro, a Hungarian nonprofit devoted to developing green transportation methods, recently unveiled the MOVEO – an electric scooter that folds in two and can be wheeled around like a rolling suitcase. The lightweight scooter weighs just 25 kilograms (55 lbs), so instead of looking for a parking space on the street, users can simply fold it and lug it up to their apartments.

Source: Inhabitat.com

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

CHIP CAN DIAGNOSE HIV IN 15 MINUTES


The mChip is a new cheap, highly portable blood test and has proven to be as accurate as expensive hospital-based analyses in detecting HIV, syphilis and other infectious diseases Researchers tested prototypes of the credit card-sized lab-on-a-chip with hundreds of patients in Rwanda, reporting nearly 100% accuracy. This new mChip could help knock down three barriers to effective delivery of healthcare into the world’s poorest regions: difficult access, high costs and long delays for results.

Read More: http://www.mchip.info/


USB WRISTBAND IS A WEARABLE, MOBILE OPERATING SYSTEM

StormFly is a wristband developed by Now Computing that provides the wearer with a complete operating system. Plugging it into the USB port of a PC or Mac allows you to use your own personalized settings without changing the host system.

The super-fast USB 3.0 storage device is embedded with an open source OS, so you can take it and your data with you wherever you go and use it on any available computer. StormFly can hold application programs and files, without you needing to carry around a laptop, and it securely encrypts all of the data on it. The wristband also comes with an automatic Backup Service, so if you lose it or it gets stolen, you are sent a new one with all the files and applications that were saved on the home folder within 24 hours.

ow Computing is trying to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter to fund their first manufacturing run. A pledge of $59 will get you a StormFly in either blazing orange or sleek black, customized with your name or company. 

Source: www.psfk.com

Monday, 4 February 2013

FUJIFILM UNVEILS A FLEXIBLE SPEAKER THAT ROLLS UP

Fujifilm unveiled a new film that can be used as the diaphragm or vibrating plate of a speaker at Nano Tech 2013 in Tokyo. ‘Beat’ makes it possible to realize a flexible speaker that can be folded or rolled up like a piece of paper.
As soft materials absorb vibration, Fujifilm used a viscoelastic polymer that hardens when subjected to the audible range of 20Hz to 20kHz, and otherwise remains soft so it can bend and fold.
Geek.com notes that the polymer is combined with piezoelectric ceramics, electrodes, and a protective outer layer. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, the piezoelectric ceramics vibrate and the polymer functions as a diaphragm.
Fujifilm displayed three versions at the trade show; a slim speaker, a retractable speaker that can be rolled up, and a speaker that looks like a traditional Japanese fan.

Saturday, 26 January 2013

APPLE PATENTS SHOE THAT TELLS WEARER WHEN TO BUY NEW ONES

Apple has patented ‘smart shoes’ that would come with embedded sensors to track your activity and tell you when you needed a new pair. Instead of wearing an additional sensor, people would just have to wear the shoes, where the technology would be less visible and be a more seamless part of your lifestyle than an external tracker.

The Infrascanner, The Gadget That Detects Internal Bleeding.


The Infrascanner Model 2000 is a portable screening device that uses Near-Infrared (NIR) technology to screen patients for intracranial bleeding, identifying those who would most benefit from immediate referral to a CT scan and neurosurgical intervention. In the triage of head trauma patients, the Infrascanner can identify patients most likely to have intracranial bleeding.
The Infrascanner Model 2000 unit is a small, portable handheld device, which includes a Sensor and a Cradle. The Sensor includes an eye safe NIR diode laser and an optical detector. The light to and from the laser and detector are optically coupled to the patient’s head through two disposable light guides. The detector signal is digitized and analyzed by a single board computer (SBC) in the Sensor. The SBC receives the data from the detector and automatically adjusts the settings to ensure good data quality. The data is further processed by the SBC and the results are displayed on the screen.
The Sensor is turned on by placing a disposable shield on the Sensor and turned off by removing the disposable shield. The Sensor can be powered either by a rechargeable NiMH battery pack or by 4 disposable AA batteries. The Cradle is used to charge the rechargeable battery pack, if it is used in the Sensor, and to copy the data from the Sensor into a Personal Computer.
The Infrascanner Model 2000 was developed based on Infrascanner Model 1000, following the specifications of the US Marine Corps. The key changes included:
  • Integration of the processing, display and control functions of the separate PDA into the sensor.
  • Ruggedization of the system for improved durability.
  • Addition of the ability to use regular AA batteries in addition to a rechargeable battery pack.

Wednesday, 9 January 2013

2 Weeks of Power No Outlets Ever


Today’s consumer electronics devices are more power-hungry than ever. A dead battery means important missed calls and emails, no GPS when you’re lost, no e-reader on your train ride, no communication in an emergency, and an overall feeling of dread and anxiety. Lilliputian has the cure, nectar™- the world’s first truly portable power device that will power all of your CE devices for up to a month with a single power pod.

http://www.nectarpower.com/

Saturday, 5 January 2013

HERE ARE 12 TIME MANAGEMENT HABITS FOR THE NEW YEAR.


Habit 1: Strive to be authentic. Be as honest with yourself as you can about what you want and why you do what you do.
Habit 2: Favor trusting relationships. Put your efforts into building relationships with people you can trust and count on, and make sure those same people can trust and count on you.
Habit 3: Maintain a lifestyle that will give you maximum energy. Work your way up to doing aerobic exercise at least three times a week, eating a light lunch, and getting enough sleep.
Habit 4: Listen to your biorhythms and organize your day accordingly. Make it a habit to pay attention to regular fluctuations in your physical and mental energy levels throughout the day; and based on what you learn, make adjustments to how you schedule tasks.
Habit 5: Set very few priorities and stick to them. Select a maximum of two things that are your highest priority, and plan time to work on them.
Habit 6: Turn down things that are inconsistent with your priorities. Get good at saying no to other people, and do so frequently.
Habit 7: Set aside time for focused effort.Schedule time every day to work on just one thing.
Habit 8: Always look for ways of doing things better and faster. Be on the lookout for tasks you do over and over again, and look for ways of improving how you do them.
Habit 9: Build solid processes. Set up processes that last and that run without your attention.
Habit 10: Spot trouble ahead and solve problems immediately. Set aside time to think about what lies ahead, and face all problems as soon as you can.
Habit 11: Break your goals into small units of work, and think only about one unit at a time. Spend most of your time working on the task in front of you, and avoid dreaming too much about the big goal.
Habit 12: Finish what’s important and stop doing what’s no longer worthwhile. Don’t stop doing what you considered worth starting unless there’s a good reason to give it up.
Source:Forbes.com

Volvo Developing Accident-Avoiding Self-Driving Cars for the Year 2020-Sustainable Design Innovation

Volvos have always been marketed as some of the safest vehicles on the road – and now the automaker is working on “crashproof” cars with next-gen collision avoidance systems that could hit the streets by the year 2020. The features are designed to help drivers stay alert and well-informed to avoid collisions and dangerous situations. Although Volvo has set a goal of 2020 for the release of these new technologies, many of them will start showing up as soon as 2014.
“The safety systems are intelligent and work together to make driving more pleasant and safe. They are designed to warn about threats. If necessary, they can also step in and intervene in critical situations. And, in some situations where the collision is unavoidable, there are safety features to help mitigate the consequences.”
Volvo is part of a larger group of automakers and companies that are working on fully autonomous vehicles, which can drive themselves and take over control if the driver becomes unresponsive or a dangerous situation is predicted. “The car of the future will be like the farmer’s horse. The farmer can steer the horse and carriage but if he falls asleep the horse will refuse to walk into a tree or off a cliff,” stated Anders Eugensson Volvo’s head of government affairs.

While we have to wait a bit for the arrival of fully autonomous cars, some of the technology will begin showing up sooner. Volvo hopes to launch the first vehicles with technology that can monitor pedestrians and other traffic and even ensure that a car is a safe distance from other vehicles in 2014.

HOW 3D PRINTING IS REVOLUTIONIZING AFFORDABLE HOUSING

As 3D printing solutions advance in terms of available materials and scale, architects are beginning to adapt the on-demand technology for use in the construction of dwellings and other structures, ushering in the next stage of prefab buildings. Whether creating the units in pieces or in some cases, pre-assembled wholes, the on-demand nature of architecture is changing the pace at which areas can be developed, while reducing associated labor and costs.

Open Source Platform Allows Users To Design And Print Pre-Fabricated Homes
WikiHouse is an open-source construction system that allows anyone to download and ‘print’ CNC-milled wooden components, which can be quickly and easily assembled into homes without formal skills or training. Created by the London-based design team 00 (zero zero), the software offers consumers free, open-source designs for ‘WikiHouses’ and corresponding CNC (computer numerical control) codes to print structure components out of plywood sheets. Following production, each of the designs can be assembled through interlocking features without requiring any fasteners or nails, similar to a jigsaw puzzle. By allowing consumers to create homes to their exact specifications on demand, WikiHouse is helping to drastically reduce construction cost and waste attributable to mass production lines.

3D Printer Constructs Eco-Friendly Buildings From Sand
The Stone Spray Robot is an on-site robotic 3D printer that can be used to create architectural designs out of sand. Utilizing a jet spray system, the robot can deploy a soil and liquid binder mix to construct a variety of architectural shapes.  In addition to pointing to the future of building eco-friendly structures, the robot’s creators claim the device runs completely on solar power.

Source: PSFK Labs






Thursday, 3 January 2013

Solar-Powered Lamp-Post Provides Ray of Light for Mali

An Italian architect has transformed life in the Mali village of Sanogola by designing a portable, locally manufactured light
Momodou Keita, town chief of Sanogola, a small village 300km north of Bamako, Mali's capital, stands proudly beside the community's solar-powered lamp-post – a shiny, blue, enamel-coated construction of welded bicycle parts and water pipes. "Ten villages now want these lamps," he announces with pride from inside his traditional Malian mud-walled compound. "Now we have electricity and it helps us so much," he says.


Solar technology is spreading throughout countries across Africa and it is getting cheaper and more efficient. The searing rays of sunlight coupled with the lack of electricity grids on the continent make this renewable form of energy a no-brainer. But what makes Foroba Yelen, or Collective Light – the name given to the lamp-posts by the women of the area – so different is that it was designed specifically for the Malian communities who would end up using it, earning funding from the University of Barcelona for winning a special mention in the City to City Barcelona FAD (El Foment de les Arts i el Disseny/Support for Art and Design) award, a competition recognising initiatives that transform communities across the world.
Italian architect Matteo Ferroni spent three years studying villages in rural Mali, where close to 90% of the population have no access to electricity. He wanted to design a light that villagers could manufacture for themselves, so went on to study how welders in nearby Cinzana built donkey carts, the traditional mode of transport that is still widely used today. He used their expertise, along with parts that could be found in any small village in the country, and came up with a design that would "work for the people, not the manufacturers".

"Wherever we need the lamp to be, we just move it," says Assitan Coulibaly, the town chief's wife, gesturing to her son who proceeds to rock the lamp-post gently backwards on to its built-in wheel and trundle it around the yard. "Children can do that. Elders can do that. Everyone can do that," she says with a smile. And they make money from renting the lamp-posts out to other communities too, adds Keita. "When other villages need light for any occasion they borrow it and go for the ceremony and bring it back," he says. "They have to pay to know the value of the lights."
Ferroni noticed how people in rural areas did not follow western night and day sleep patterns. Instead, they wake and sleep depending on circumstances, and it was often the women who would work through the night using costly and often dangerous paraffin lanterns to finish jobs, such as grinding shea nuts, maize or millet, to sell the following day. "The light is a tool to help women who carry out most of the work in the villages," he says. "If they can do extra work at night, they can bring in more money for the family and in turn improve the education and health of their children."
The lamp-posts have become much more than just a source of light for the community of Sanogola. They are enhancing their lives economically, socially and educationally, creating a space for the people of the village to use in whatever way they desire. And 62 more were delivered to communities in the surrounding areas in December. "This light is the equivalent of the shade of the tree in the daytime," says Ferroni.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/dec/28/solar-powered-lamp-post-mali