And the DIY Nobel Prize goes to…

…William Kamkwamba. That’s right, if the DIY community had to pick a role model for this year, it has to be William Kamkwamba from Malawi, Africa. William built his family a electricity-producing windmill. And He was 14 when he did that. Using plans he found on a library book called “Using Energy” and modifying them to his needs, he managed to light up 4 light bulbs and to power 2 radios. Now with 19 he has plans to build a bigger one to pump water to a irrigation system for the whole village. How awesome is that?

His presentation at TED is worth getting inspired from.

Nice to mention is that William’s act was first published in a Malawian Blog which was read by TEDGlobal Conference Director Emeka Okafor who decided to invite him for this year’s conference. We see user innovation resolving local problems being spread in grassroots media (blogs) and inspiring global changes. Now William is also writing Blog.

People like him represent the new breed of entrepreneurs that are going to change things around here.

Is this the future or what?

Photos from: www.ted.com

BLU’s amazing art video

Not so long ago I had the chance to know the work of Blu. Now I had to post this amazing painting animation he did in Berlin.

Link to Video
More of his work at www.blublu.org

Do you know how to build a rocket bike?

Remember when mom used to say, kid! How many times do I have to tell you not to play with fire!!! yeahh I remember. And in Brazil, moms also say that kids that play with fire pee in bed much more than normal kids. I never met the mom of this rocket guy but I am sure he didn´t listen to her.

Sorry to all the moms out there but wouldn’t it be nice to build an opensource rocket bike? or at least learn How to. I don´t know a thing about rockets but I know a lot about bikes, I also know some crazy friends (the Alltrack Bicycles Crew) that would love to ride this thing. The test track would be at Ipanema Beach, at a sunday afternoon when the road is open for pedestrians. But we would need to find this guy to share his knowledge, we would also need ideas for potencial sponsors (administrators);we would need a camera for documentation (film makers, journalists); a music band for the video soundtrack and DJ for the release party. Ok, before the party, we must build this bike.

Unfortunately I wouldn´t be able to build a rocket bike like this myself (at least not without giving up my job as a designer to study a lot about rockets) but I am sure there are many out there that could help me. In order to build this things with this complexity we should start thinking of a platform that would enpower different people to work in the same project, find a way to share knowledge in real time, sharing 3D files, spreadsheets, drawings etc., people working non-centralized in small subjects of the problem, sharing experiences to achieve one goal. In a realtime product development platform, this could happen not just with rocket bikes, but with any complex product. Its about communicating to evolute, to go further. So the list of things we need is definitely far from being complete but I think one thing is certain, we need to collaborate to build the products of our future. Peace.

Link to Video

Balls of Steel

Lets Evo has always been a fan of crazy fellows that give up normal life in the persue of breaking records. But this is really crazy. I’ve got to throw my hands up for Dani Wyss, from switzerland, who won this year’s the Race Across America pedaling 4910 kilometers in just 9 days, 11 hours and 50 minutes. What really makes me feel sick is the fact that he only slept 11 hours during these 9 days. Amen

Dani Wyss’ Website

Race Across America
foto source: Dani Wyss

Awesome Photography by “Steven Is R”

While adventuring myself in the Flickr Archives I bumped into Steven Is R “kickflip melon” bed to bed ollie photo. Just made my day. Make sure to check his flickr photos, this guy is evo.

“Steven is R” in Flickr

Going big over the water

Woooow. Sometimes I think every damm thing was already invented and there is no one else pushing the limits of product usability. And I start getting all philosophical about what is my role in society blah blah blah. Then I see this video. And I just wish I would go for a ride….I mean…for a flight.The Flying Manta Ray was developed by Sevylor and is must be damn cool.
No more words, check the video inside the company´s website.

 

 

 

NYC Bike Messanger Race Video

This is a video done with headcam during a bike messanger race in New York City. I read about it in Josh Rubins Cool Hunting Blog. Just made me want to shut down my computer a grab my bike. thats Evo.

 

 

Watch the video