Thinking outside the box

[Russinator]

Not many people can think outside what they know, but when someone does it is usually an "Aha!" moment that paves the way for a tremendous break through in how we do think.

This Popular Mechanic's video is one of those times when someone made the leap out of the box and into the ranks of creative inventor:

  http://tinyurl.com/3yod26

[wavery]

The theory is great. He's not the 1st. I've actually seen it before in New Zealand.

One of the problems is that the air has to be moving at a particular, constant speed. I'm afraid that nature just doesn't operate in "Constants". Too slow and the reed doesn't move, to fast and the reed over-extends and stops.

The one that I saw in New Zealand, many years ago ('86 I think), was put at the end of a tunnel, to control wind direction and speed. The output is extremely low.

Good old fashion turbine wind generators are far more efficient. They work at various wind speeds and just put out more as the wind gets stronger.

[Russinator]

Wavery, thanks for the heads up.

I had a feeling it was too good to be true.

Russ

[AustinBoston]

He kept talking about the problems with shrinking turbines, but for the size of the device he had, it produced very little electricity, and it was highly variable.

It does illustrate the concept of thinking outside the box, but as Wayne essentially pointed out, nearly every unique idea has been thought of somewhere, by someone, before.

Austin