Comments on: Tiny Solar Pebble Can Replace Kerosene Lamps in Rural Africa

By: etorvi

etorvi — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:26:42 +0000

@steamer – Bravo! you have a rare keen eye for design at the base of the economic pyramid. I am so frustrated with the extraordinary amount of positive media attention solar rubbish “designed for the poor” receives in the West. Thinking in particular of Nokero as well…

By: Africa's Largest Slum Will Watch World Cup on Solar-Powered TV | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:08:21 +0000

[...] a million people — and no electricity. Kibera residents use dangerous and heavily-polluting kerosene lamps to see at night, and despite their fervor for soccer, watching the World Cup has been entirely out [...]

By: ksdoug

ksdoug — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:33:49 +0000

@streamer I don’t see your post at FB and a response moving on Who’s to say these units aren’t being manufactured in China now? I see nothing at the product’s web page that mentions place of manufacture. With the savings from not buying fuel, purchasing a small screwdriver may not be a hardship.

By: gsuther

gsuther — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:44:52 +0000

streamer – a little unfair I think – your comments were replied to and quite comprehensively addressed your concerns I think – and you can still see the reply on their Wall – plus minus solar.

By: steamer

steamer — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:06:27 +0000

Left a message on their wall that was removed after a few seconds. Obviously their marketing department doesn’t like to hear any constructive criticism. The unit is not poor friendly. The way it is designed now, it will be useless in a little over a year, after the original battery dies. Then be tossed into the garbage with all the other poorly designed products. The case is held together with small screws. Do poor Africans have jewelers screwdrivers? Also, What Type of battery(s) does it use. A better Design would have been a round case, with a screw off back, and use rechargeable AA batteries. (Much cheaper to replace a few batteries than a whole new unit) If I were poor, I wouldn’t buy it without these 2 features. Another case of marketing hype over reality. The Chinese will have a better product out in a few weeks, and this company will fade into the sunset fast. Neither poor or environmentally friendly. No Stars deserved

By: namarchetti

namarchetti — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:30:23 +0000

Great story on the Solar Pebble Brit. We also got a chance to chat with the designers – http://www.earthtechling.com/2010/04/shining-light-on-the-solar-pebble-chatting-with-designers-plus-minus-design/ – and were quite impressed by what they want to do with this.

Nino
EarthTechling