By Megan Treacy, Source: Treehugger

A new Kickstarter project goes where others like the Soccket Ball, the nPower Peg battery charger and others have gone before it by tapping the kinetic energy involved in human actions like walking, playing sports, or in this case, playing music.

The Spark, created by Sudha Kheterpal — a UK-based percussionist, is a percussive shaker that converts the energy from playing it into electricity. The Spark contains a magnet that moves backwards and forwards through the centre of a solenoid, a coil of copper wire, when it is shaken. A current is induced in the loops of wire and each time the magnet slides through, it charges up a rechargeable battery.

The battery can then be used to power LED flashlights or lanterns for about an hour so that school kids can have light to walk home by or do homework in the evenings and women and young girls can safely walk at night.

Read the rest at: Treehugger