Clockwork Radio

The Freeplay Foundation is attempting to aid and educate poorer parts of the world by distributing a radio that can be powered by wind energy, solar energy, or man-power. The countries they have sent their radios to include: Afghanistan, Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia. Established in 1998, and with a strong network of contacts with governments, international organizations and NGOs, the Freeplay Foundation seeks to advance economic progress, promote community development and help eradicate disease, famine and conflict.[1] By supplying areas with the radio, they will be able to broadcast important information that will educate people and make their lives easier as well as entertain and increase social interaction in the area. For example, in 2004, more than a million Afghans were still living in refugee camps in Pakistan, preferring the security of camp life to an uncertain future in their own country. The Freeplay Foundation provided Lifeline radios to IRIN and UNHCR to help these Afghans keep in touch with news of the reconstruction of their country and the world beyond.

As well as distributing the radio, Freeplay also works closely with local and international broadcasters who survey and assess the information needs of their target populations. This helps ensure that a greater audience is acknowledged by the radio stations so that more people who receive radios also gain a greater benefit from them as they are now a recognised part of the audience.

Sustainable Technology

The radios being used are an example of sustainable technology. The only way to power the radios is by using renewable energy sources. This is very good for the environment for multiple reasons as well as good for people in the area. By running on portable solar cells and wind turbines there are no expensive installation costs for those. It also removes the need to research and build a non-renewable energy station as well as educate workers and pay them to keep it running, and the need to mine or import fuels. It also removes the immense cost of laying cables to carry electricity to the many villages that barely have a need for them, or could afford the electricity. It is also safer to use the small solar cells and wind turbines since there are no dangerously high voltages. The other way to power the radio is by turning the crank and using man power to generate energy. Because of this, it is possible to take the radios to anyone within range of the station's broadcast and they can immediately wind up, tune in, and begin to benefit from the radio.

The radios have also been designed to withstand conditions like intense heat, fine sand and dirt, and rough handling. These are the main factors that would damage the radio in the primary area it's being distributed; Africa. Giving the radio such integrity allows for it to last a long time, so additional resources don't need to be spent on building replacements and then transporting them around.

Alternatives

There really are no other sensible or affordable alternatives that can offer what the radios can. Any other method of distributing information comes with additional costs, a lot of which are impractical or even impossible. To compare against the other forms of media we generaly receive in England, such as mail, newspaper, television, and the internet, all have clear disadvantages against radio.

Mail and newspaper would not be practical mainly because of how sparse communities are. Delivering such items on a regular basis would require a massive amount of travelling. In a place where cars and fuel are rare, and there are no proper roads to reach the distant villages, costs would be far too great to consider starting a business, and then there wouldn't even be a good opportunity to make an income. Also, a high percentage of people that the radios will be given to have not learnt to read, so even if you get the mail and newspapers to them, they would not be able to do anything with them.

Television costs more to broadcast than radio since you need to send a picture as well as audio. Running a television studio also requires more staff, planning and equipment then a radio station which adds to cost of running. A television would also need to be given out to the villages. These require more energy to run than a radio and it would not be possible to fit them with a wind up device that is practical, so a generator would need to be installed too, and then that would need a constant supply of fuel. Also, like with mail and newspaper, if you broadcast words to display on the television, the audience may not necessarily be able to read them. One of the few benefits a television would have over a radio in such areas, is that by broadcasting pictures with audio could be an effective way of helping people learn how to read.

The internet is not a possibility as this would require a large scale phone network to be setup. Each village would also require at least one computer. This has the same problems as television, like needing more energy and the users being able to read, but it would also require much more training so the people know how to use the computer and browse the internet. The Internet service providers may then have to block websites that conflict with laws and beliefs of the country, all of which is expensive.

Nothing does a better job than radio at providing information quickly at a low cost and in such a wide area that can be easily understood on a device that is as easy to use.

Politics and Finance

Using the radio as a medium for broadcasting news will keep people informed of the state of the country and allow for a more diplomatic community that would have otherwise been isolated and independent. If money is being spent on a new school or hospital then spreading word with the radio will allow it to receive greater use making the spend more justifiable. News of dangerous weather predictions can also help areas be more prepared, with information on how to prepare also being broadcast. Doing so could reduce the number of sick people and therefore reduce the money spent on treatment in hospitals, allowing for more money to be saved and spent on other improvements

Global Possibilities

The technology behind clockwork devices is always advancing. When the first prototype of a clockwork radio was built it took two minutes worth of winding to power the radio for only 14 minutes. Current radios can last for an hour after being wound for only 1 minute. This is from continued research into converting more energy from turning the handle as well as storing it in batteries or capacitors that discharge more efficiently. As these technologies advance, more devices can begin to benefit from the technology. Couple this with electronic components becoming more energy efficient and the potential uses are quite good. Mobile phones consume very little power whilst on standby, so someone could invent a mobile that could last an incredibly long time without having to be plugged into a socket in the wall to charge, as long as the user doesn't mind doing a little winding now and then. Other small devices like audio players, torches, watches, calculators, wireless remotes and controllers could benefit in the same way. One potential problem would be finding a way of fitting such small devices with a practical crank.

Gym equipment could be modified so that using them produces electricity. This could then be subsidised against your subscription to the gym as an incentive to use the gym more.

references:
[1] http://www.freeplayfoundation.org/