Luke Talbot, a graduate from Central Saint Martins, has created a portable charger called MyPowerbank that can be attached to rental bikes in London to allow homeless people to charge their phones for free. The charger is designed to fit onto the chain of any Santander bicycle and takes advantage of the bike’s movement when pedaling backwards to generate electricity. The electricity is then stored in the charger’s internal batteries, with 25 minutes of pedaling equating to one full phone charge. Talbot’s design was inspired by the idea of hacking urban infrastructure for the benefit of homeless people, and his goal is to manufacture the powerbanks for as little as £3 in collaboration with a charity or NGO. This innovative solution addresses the challenge faced by homeless individuals in finding a place to charge their phones, which limits their access to important digital services.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyPowerbank allows homeless people to charge phones | Access to technology | More accessible charging options for homeless individuals | Addressing the digital divide |
| Portable charger hooks onto rental bikes | Technological innovation | Integration of portable chargers into urban infrastructure | Increasing convenience and accessibility |
| Electricity generated from pedaling powers charger | Renewable energy usage | More sustainable charging options for mobile devices | Environmental consciousness |
| Homeless individuals struggle to find places to charge phones | Digital inequality | Increased availability of charging facilities for homeless individuals | Bridging the digital divide |
| Design inspired by repurposing urban infrastructure for homeless benefit | Social innovation | More creative and inclusive urban design practices | Addressing social inequality |
| Prototype uses 3D printing and reclaimed batteries | Sustainable design practices | Greater use of recycled and eco-friendly materials in product manufacturing | Environmental sustainability |
| Design production aims for collaboration with charity or NGO | Social collaboration | Increased collaboration between organizations to address social issues | Collective social responsibility |
| Potential for circular repair system for broken powerbanks | Circular economy practices | Reduction of waste through repair and reuse of electronic devices | Environmental sustainability |