Part bicycle, part podium, and completely out of the ordinary, the pedal desk is a collaboration of recycled parts and the efforts and ingenuity of UC Davis students. Initially constructed as a class project for sustainable living,--funded by the UC Davis Sustainable Living Initiative, the pedal desk is designed to demonstrate that electrical power requires physical input—something not consciously and infrequently considered. Although many are oblivious to the inconvenience of energy—we are well aware of where that energy goes. The pedal desk conveys the effects of the lifestyle that most Americans live.
Technologies, such as cars and segways, allow us to be mobile yet relatively stationary. The pedal desk, however, provides the ability of mobility while fixed on the seat of the bike/desk. Next to the “try me” sign on the desk, another post reads “Empowering legs to power laptops.” The ability of one’s laptop to function while using the pedal desk is restricted by the user—assuming the battery power is nonexistent. Besides encouraging people to try the pedal desk, the product itself encourages users to become aware of energy consumption. The freedom of powering appliances is restricted by the ability to produce that power. Much of the electric power used in the United States still comes from nonrenewable energy, because of its convenience. Sustainable living encompasses the awareness of this depletion of resources, while advocating the use of renewable energy. Work is required to consume watts (energy in one of its many forms) by means of powering appliances as does it to burn off calories that you eat (energy yet again).
Obesity is a major problem concerning many Americans. The American culture is fueled by convenience. Although technology has its many benefits—convenience as one—it can also attribute to sedentary life style. The freedom and ease of transportation and social networking without leaving home, restricts physical health of sedentary individuals. The pedal desk is an invention that allows users to move and stimulate their legs muscles—along with their fingers and brains.
Sustainable living has a somewhat hazy definition better demonstrated by the many efforts that encompass it, singly unified by their objective-- to maintain availability of resources for future and current generations. Whether switching a standard light bulb to a longer lasting, “energy-saving” (more adequately put “reduced consuming”) light bulbs or opting an apple in place of a bag of chips as a snack, both types of activities serve as a more efficient use of energy resources—our environment and our bodies.
Technologies, such as cars and segways, allow us to be mobile yet relatively stationary. The pedal desk, however, provides the ability of mobility while fixed on the seat of the bike/desk. Next to the “try me” sign on the desk, another post reads “Empowering legs to power laptops.” The ability of one’s laptop to function while using the pedal desk is restricted by the user—assuming the battery power is nonexistent. Besides encouraging people to try the pedal desk, the product itself encourages users to become aware of energy consumption. The freedom of powering appliances is restricted by the ability to produce that power. Much of the electric power used in the United States still comes from nonrenewable energy, because of its convenience. Sustainable living encompasses the awareness of this depletion of resources, while advocating the use of renewable energy. Work is required to consume watts (energy in one of its many forms) by means of powering appliances as does it to burn off calories that you eat (energy yet again).
Obesity is a major problem concerning many Americans. The American culture is fueled by convenience. Although technology has its many benefits—convenience as one—it can also attribute to sedentary life style. The freedom and ease of transportation and social networking without leaving home, restricts physical health of sedentary individuals. The pedal desk is an invention that allows users to move and stimulate their legs muscles—along with their fingers and brains.
Sustainable living has a somewhat hazy definition better demonstrated by the many efforts that encompass it, singly unified by their objective-- to maintain availability of resources for future and current generations. Whether switching a standard light bulb to a longer lasting, “energy-saving” (more adequately put “reduced consuming”) light bulbs or opting an apple in place of a bag of chips as a snack, both types of activities serve as a more efficient use of energy resources—our environment and our bodies.
Sustainable Living…
Intrigued? Confused? Some links to further these feelings.
http://www.grow-our-own.co.uk/
http://ecoliteracy.org/education/sustainability.html
http://eartheasy.com/homepage.htm
Intrigued? Confused? Some links to further these feelings.
http://www.grow-our-own.co.uk/
http://ecoliteracy.org/education/sustainability.html
http://eartheasy.com/homepage.htm
2 comments:
I like your post explaining how the pedal desk works. I have noticed one in the MU near the bookstore, but I did not know exactly what it is for. Also, I never saw anyone using it before so I thought it was not functioning or we were not supposed to use it. I think someone puts the pedal desk in uncomfortable environment because most people would not feel comfortable using the pedal desk while many students walk in the building. It would be great if the pedal desks were in the ARC where people go for working out to burn off calories.
This is a very interesting subject, and you cover a lot of ground in a short span of words. I had not heard of the pedal desk, and I found your description very thought provoking. Nicely done!
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