We had a busy summer designing, developing and finally demonstrating our Tent of the Future for E.ON. Based around the space and energy efficient geodesic dome structure (thanks Buckminster Fuller), it was an opportunity to create some micro generation devices for children to learn first hand how electricity can be generated and also to be aware of the relationship between generation and consumption. We created a 'virtual battery' device which monitored the micro generated electricity 'banked' and also the power 'spent' and presented it as a giant battery graphic interface. The electricity generating bicycles were a big hit with the kids and they competed against one another to generate more power and also grasped the concept of how difficult it is to generate electricity and how they perhaps take it for granted.
The Tent of the Future was installed at several large Scout and Guide Jamborees around UK. It was also filled with all kinds of high tech camping gear with a general theme of heat and power efficiency. We had great fun sourcing the gear and developing the and building the demonstrators.
