From Fast Company -- "About a year ago, two students from the Art Center College of Design named Alex Cabunoc and Ji A You traveled from Los Angeles to Cerro Verde, a 30,000 person slum outside of Lima, Peru. Their goal? Develop a commercial product that alleviates issues related to water poverty, targeted at people who earn between $4 and $10 a day."
Here's what they came up with:
"The GiraDora (see picture above and video demonstration below) is a blue bucket that conceals a spinning mechanism that washes clothes and then partially dries them. It’s operated by a foot pedal, while the user sits on the lid to stabilize the rapidly churning contents. Sitting alleviates lower-back pain associated with hand-washing clothes, and frees up the washer to pursue other tasks. It’s portable, so it can be placed nearby a water source, or even inside on a rainy day. It reduces health risks like joint problems, skin irritation, and mold inhalation. Most importantly, it uses far less water and cleans clothes faster than conventional hand-washing. This equates to more free time, explains Cabunoc, and the opportunity to 'break the cycle of poverty.'"
Thanks for this. I think I'll get one for my undocumented alien. This will help alleviate her lower-back pain and free her up to pursue those other important tasks. Reducing health risks is good too, to keep her at important tasks. And with today's water prices, I'm glad to see it saves water.
ReplyDeleteAt last! Something productive for my unemployed son to do with his time!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information, I'll probaly purchase a few of these for my obese neighbors and co-workers who are U.S. citizens.
ReplyDeleteBut on second thought the obsese Americans will probaly collapse the plastic washing machine.
On third thought the fat and lazy Americans won't pedal anything to expend any of the energy/calories from the dozen donuts they had for breakfast.
If the students could convert that washing machine to an ice-chest for cooling cheap budweiser beer they could sell millions of units to Americans.
"On third thought the fat and lazy Americans won't pedal anything to expend any of the energy/calories from the dozen donuts they had for breakfast"...
ReplyDeleteWell then culon get one and put your kids in it and tell them its an aqua merry go round...
Great summer fun to be had by all...
fly swatter:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.indiegogo.com/projects/161050
so it's an up sized salad spinner?
ReplyDeleteExcellent idea, a new one to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
This thing is not nearly as primitive as the "washing machine" we had in the 1970's in the supposedly more advanced Soviet Union. The only thing it changed about our lives is that we had to find a place to store that hulking mess. We could put a man in space, but always at the expense of the welfare of the citizenry. The difference between capitalism and everything else!
ReplyDeleteThis is real enviromentalism unlike global warming eco-baloney.
ReplyDeleteSure, it will free up their time so they can scavenge around for food.
ReplyDeleteMy only concern is the price tag. TO us, $40 is nothing, but many of these people live on less than $2 a day.
ReplyDelete"On third thought ..." -- Don Culon
ReplyDeleteWhoa, a "third thought". I would never have guessed that you were capable. Is that some sort of Mexican national record?
It looks a if your entire neighborhood could get their dew rags and wife beaters clean in just one load. But don't go out and purchase one, just wait until some Democrat declares owning one a "right" and insists that the government include one with every welfare check.
"At last! Something productive for my unemployed son to do with his time!"
ReplyDeleteHa! Good luck with that one.
Any idea where I could get one for my off the grid camp?
ReplyDelete