Kinetic Energy Technology and You

Video - Dance-workout party at Grand Central Station in New York on the Energy Floor

According to a scientist (Albert Einstein to be exact) - “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

According to an athlete - Doing the same thing over and over again is the only pathway to improving performance.

According to teachers – saying the same thing over and over again in a different way comes with the territory of learning. And that is perfectly fine.

Whether physical repetition strengthens muscle memory or builds confidence, physical practice brings results. Sometimes we need these results to be the same and sometimes we need to learn from the differences with experimentation.

What if we could combine the experimentation of science, with the muscle memory stimulation of physical movement to remind ourselves about the power of learning.

Through this combination we can create a pathway to experiment with and learn from all kinds of emerging technologies – in a way which appeals to our bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.

How Movement Helps Us Learn

Some of us learn by doing. Some of us learn through our hands more efficiently than reading, visualizing or listening. Kinesthetic learners learn best through physical activities like science experiments, sport or even dance. Some people are moreso tactile kinesthetic learners rather than bodily kinesthetic learners in that they learn by touch rather than the movement of their whole body. If kinesthetic learners do have to learn through listening or reading they often like to have something in their hand while they learn.

Everybody Moves

With the added personal benefits of movement such as exercise, kinesthetic learning not only appeals to those it comes naturally to but anyone else looking for more creative ways to improve their health. If we also see results in how our body changes with exercising then this gives us another aspect of positive reinforcement through kinesthetic learning.

Businesses Move Too

On the other hand, the concept of kinesthetic learning has been used to benefit businesses as well. Throughout the world brands are being activated by kinesthetic learning technology which is sometimes labelled as an interactive experience. This interaction visualizes a company’s brand and gives them feedback on how engaged their target audiences are. If we use and move with their technology – we give businesses market data about our preferences and habits. Businesses benefit greatly from this kind of information.

Most technologies are dependent on electricity and so it makes financial sense that technologies developed with kinesthetic learning in mind are also linked to renewable energy, specifically kinetic energy.

All of this means that kinesthetic learners can take their learning through movement to another level with emerging technologies which harness kinetic energy.

Next Level Learning – Emerging Kinetic Energy Technologies

Cost is often prohibitive with emerging technologies, especially those tied to renewable energy. However, more democratized and interactive learning experiences can help us overcome this cost.

Democratization means that more of us can access technology. This happens when brands which benefit from kinetic energy target marketing - sponsor the use of technology for their potential customers. This gives the general public an opportunity to vote on the utility and effectiveness of interactive technologies by simply participating in demonstration events. When these emerging interactive technologies mobilize us to tackle health issues, de-stress and generate electricity too – then our vision for an energy secure and healthier future is bright.

Here’s how this is already happening –

1. Kick a ball or jump rope.

Images - Uncharted Play – Soccket(Ball) and Pulse (Jump rope).

This technology by Uncharted Play captures the rotational energy of jumping rope through a micro-generator which then charges a lithium battery. One hour of play leads to 3 hours of a lit soccer ball. One hour of jumping rope results in 12 hours of light.

The main goal of this technology is to promote physical activity and increase energy awareness. Considering that soccer players are some of the fittest athletes – running the equivalent of 6 miles per match – it is evident that kicking a soccer ball around has spin-off endurance benefits as well.

2. Exercise equipment

From treadmills to exercise bikes our workout moves can be converted to power our phones, lights, computers and televisions.

Image compliments Expand Your Consciousness -

This exercise bike uses a flywheel to convert one hour of pedaling to 24 hours of powering a rural household.

To bypass the cost barriers and inconvenience of buying new equipment – ReRev retrofits gyms to convert mechanical energy to power the gym’s electricity needs. Thirty minutes of working out can generate 50 watt hours of electricity.

3. Entertainment Equipment

Sure, exercising is fun and most of us have the best of intentions to do some kind of exercise three times a week. We all know that doing this takes some level of commitment to our health. With the responsibilities of family, work and more let’s face it – it doesn’t always happen. One thing that happens for more of us, happens when we hear music. Music moves our bodies in all kinds of amazing (and sometimes strange) ways.

The Energy Floors company has developed an energy floor and visualization energy plug-ins to amplify the effect of our movement. From brand activation to educational challenges the sustainable dancefloor has already been used throughout the world from Paris to Columbia.

When we shift our weight on top of the energy floor, a micro-generator is used to convert mechanical energy to 35 watts of sustained output per floor tile (each tile is approximately 2.4 feet squared).The energy floor can be used in combination with other forms of renewable energy and it can power lights, phones, laptops and more depending on how many tiles are used and how many people are dancing. Their floors have also been adapted for everyday use in sidewalks, marathons and football fields.

So kinesthetic learners and anyone else that likes to move their body – this is all for you.

Move your body, power your learning and transform your kinetic energy to new levels.

- Ariana Marshall Ph.D - An environmental scientist and kinesthetic learner crafting a future career as a bashment soca dancer.

#renewableenergy #PeoplePower