Jogging or Walking Light

Author: Lance Winslow

Article source: http://worldthinktank.net/. Used with author's permission.

Many of us live in climates where certain times during the year it is simply too hot during the day to go jogging or take a long walk to stay in shape. Yet if you are out jogging too late at night in areas with no streetlights when there is no moon, you risk the possibility injury if you trip or fall. Twisting or rolling an ankle can often be more painful than a fracture. Even if you do not twist your ankle you could easily trip and skin up your knees, hips, elbows and hands trying to break you fall.

I propose a small device the size of a pedometer, which would shine forward as you run on a trail or a dark road. The bumps from each step would power up the light using electromagnetic induction technology to charge a capacitor instead of the light working off a battery. Currently there are some nifty micro-flashlights being used which you can buy which use a similar technique and are available thanks to the Everlite Flashlight technology research lab. These smaller flashlights work by shaking them for about thirty seconds and shine for about 6 minutes and they shine quite bright since they use a very bright LED light. Here is a link to this home use flashlight:

http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/details/ee_shakelight.html

Here is a quick movie you can watch online to see how this technology works.

http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/movies/ee_forever.MPG

I propose we miniaturize this technology for joggers and walkers to help us stay thin and safe at night when we finally get the time exercise. If the light gets too dim from too smooth of a road, yah, we wish, then the system would revert back to a small pin light battery. Perhaps this is a good way to save us from injury, crime and take off those few extra pounds? Think on this.