Comments on: Sensors powered by trees http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: MarlboroTestMonkey7 http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302612 MarlboroTestMonkey7 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302612 At long last the existential question of trees falling in the forest will be answered. At long last the existential question of trees falling in the forest will be answered.

]]> By: thievedrelic http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302911 thievedrelic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302911 personally, i'd rather not be surrounded by cables and blinking lights when i'm taking a stroll through the deep places of the forest. personally. but still; that is an enchantingly science-laden invention. i enjoy thinking about it~ personally, i’d rather not be surrounded by cables and blinking lights when i’m taking a stroll through the deep places of the forest.
personally.

but still; that is an enchantingly science-laden invention. i enjoy thinking about it~

]]> By: Sijay http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302918 Sijay Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302918 If trees could transmit alarms, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they did all the time, for no good reason. If trees could transmit alarms, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down?

We might, if they did all the time, for no good reason.

]]> By: TJ S http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302435 TJ S Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302435 Wouldn't the sensors nearest the weather station, having to relay all other sensor's data, need to transmit much more data, and possibly need more power than what the tree provides? I love the idea, but this seems like a possibly idea-killing flaw. Wouldn’t the sensors nearest the weather station, having to relay all other sensor’s data, need to transmit much more data, and possibly need more power than what the tree provides?

I love the idea, but this seems like a possibly idea-killing flaw.

]]> By: prunk http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302691 prunk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302691 @#1 You could set up an array of sensors with an increasing density as you get closer to the weather station and then make a mesh to send partial signals through multiple sensors. Plus you could just add booster antenna that don't send any additional info but just relay. I think somehow if MIT is harvesting energy from pH imbalance in trees that they may be able to overcome the other logistics. I'm still waiting for them to figure out how to convert calories into battery power from the human digestive system. Imagine being able to burn fat away by recharging your devices. @#1
You could set up an array of sensors with an increasing density as you get closer to the weather station and then make a mesh to send partial signals through multiple sensors. Plus you could just add booster antenna that don’t send any additional info but just relay. I think somehow if MIT is harvesting energy from pH imbalance in trees that they may be able to overcome the other logistics.
I’m still waiting for them to figure out how to convert calories into battery power from the human digestive system. Imagine being able to burn fat away by recharging your devices.

]]> By: Rampant http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302708 Rampant Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302708 An easy joke to make MarlboroTestMonkey, but an enjoyable one here nonetheless :x I always delight in new technological innovations and, in this instance, whatever cost is certainly overcome by potential savings of lives (human or otherwise). An easy joke to make MarlboroTestMonkey, but an enjoyable one here nonetheless :x

I always delight in new technological innovations and, in this instance, whatever cost is certainly overcome by potential savings of lives (human or otherwise).

]]> By: wolfiesma http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-483219 wolfiesma Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-483219 Listen to me. Go to costco and get the Leyland Cypress tree if you can find it. Plant it by your house or on some abandoned piece of earth somewhere. Put trees in the ground everywhere you possibly can and the rest will work itself out. I'm sure of it. Listen to me. Go to costco and get the Leyland Cypress tree if you can find it. Plant it by your house or on some abandoned piece of earth somewhere. Put trees in the ground everywhere you possibly can and the rest will work itself out. I’m sure of it.

]]> By: TJ S http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302753 TJ S Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302753 @#6 Recharging my gadgets by burning off calories sounds great, but I'm a little concerned about how plugging in might work... @#6
Recharging my gadgets by burning off calories sounds great, but I’m a little concerned about how plugging in might work…

]]> By: semiotix http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302501 semiotix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302501 <i>Wouldn't the sensors nearest the weather station, having to relay all other sensor's data, need to transmit much more data, and possibly need more power than what the tree provides?<i> I suspect they'll plant special high-alkalinity trees in those regions. Wouldn’t the sensors nearest the weather station, having to relay all other sensor’s data, need to transmit much more data, and possibly need more power than what the tree provides?

I suspect they’ll plant special high-alkalinity trees in those regions.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302774 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302774 how about a flexible band around the trunk that harvests minute pulses of current as the tree bends in the wind? how about a flexible band around the trunk that harvests minute pulses of current as the tree bends in the wind?

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302778 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302778 http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/speak-to-the-collar-the-shirts-playing-its-own-tune/2007/10/26/1192941339431.html http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/speak-to-the-collar-the-shirts-playing-its-own-tune/2007/10/26/1192941339431.html

]]> By: crackhead http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302525 crackhead Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302525 Reminds me of the Epimetheus project out of NYU's ITP: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/05/itp_show_epimetheus_tree.html Reminds me of the Epimetheus project out of NYU’s ITP: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/05/itp_show_epimetheus_tree.html

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-302543 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-302543 This is sensorship! I can't believe all these people want to sensor an entire forest! This is sensorship!

I can’t believe all these people want to sensor an entire forest!

]]> By: things http://boingboing.net/2008/10/07/sensors-powered-by-t.html#comment-303074 things Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-303074 I wonder what effect this might have in the long term on the root. I wonder if the roots would wear out in the same way batteries wear out... I wonder what effect this might have in the long term on the root. I wonder if the roots would wear out in the same way batteries wear out…

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