Researchers at Simon Frasier University in British Columbia have developed technology that generates electricity from the natural motion of walking. In an article published in the journal Science this month, Max Donelan, an assistant professor of kinesiology, and other team members say their biomechanical energy harvester promises to revolutionize the way people charge the batteries that power all sorts of mobile gear.
Their harvester, which straps across a knee joint just like an athletic knee brace, can generate up to five watts of electricity with little physical effort. And one minute of brisk walking can generate 13 watts -- enough to support 30 minutes of cell-phone use.