August 18 – 25, 2014, in the Cévennes and Gévaudan (France). Episode #1
I am Benoit Pereira da Silva, 42 years old, and I'm a software author and an independent mobile consultant. Since July 2013.i work while walking 3 km/h on a treadmill. I “travel” on average 100 to 120 km per week while doing tasks. After working this way and going more than 5000 km in a year, I decided to walk outside and take on the roads, valleys, mountains, and landscapes that are all around.
From August 18 – 25, with Nino (my son, who is 13 and a half years old) who has gone along with me on this adventure, we have been walking in the Cévennes and Gévaudan, with a prototype of a mobile desk using self-sufficient energy. We have camped and used the energy produced by the solar cart that I’ll be tugging along.
The episode #1 presents the device :
I have designed, and developed a suspended aluminum desk with a backpack. In addition to various gadgets, this desk has a computer, a phone, a solar "monitoring" system, a battery charger for the drone, and some storage space.
Below the “shelf," I have a place to attach the drone and its camera when it isn't flying.
The cart supports two solar panels (1.20 m by 1.10 m) that are likely to produce 200 w at full capacity. In addition, it contains the tent and some small camping equipment, a backup battery, and associated control electronics.
Resources :
Timeline : http://walkingworking.com/md2014
Via twitter : https://twitter.com/bpereiradasilva
Google + : https://plus.google.com/+BenoitPereir...
Sponsors:
- Withings designs and develops intelligent devices for health, activity, and well-being: an activity tracker, a watch and connected scales, sleep products, a wireless blood pressure monitor, and applications.http://withings.com
- Escadrone: Images using drones and photogrammetry services. http://escadrone.com
Comments
@Jethro Hazelhurst My pleasure. This DIYD blog post offers more mind candy.
This is very cool stuff, great information in the links you are all posting. The post by Clay Shirky was very interesting, thanks for sharing John.
Visitors to DIYD, especially those reading this while sitting, as I was... may want to watch this webinar (start at 09:00) to hear Dr.Levine's presentation. Having self-identified as "chair-imprisoned", I have now switched to using my laptop on a rolling stand as a step toward better health.
I do live in the Cevennes national Park all the year long and walk and run a lot when i m not walking on my treadmill desk. My project was an experimentation. Clay Skirky is perfectly right, but walking is not a task. In fact walking is a background mechanic physical activity, an "unconscious Ritournelle". There is a very long tradition of walking -teaching philosophers... From Aristotle's Peripatetic school (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripatetic_school) to Nietzsche by Kant and even more modern thinkers... Walking with a computer is not multitasking, it is simply a way to "GET UP!" following the injonction of Dr James A. Levine (the inventor in 2000 of the treadmill desk)...
I think this is a great project. After reading this post by Clay Shirky, I wonder about the effects of distraction from walking in such a beautiful area. To borrow from that post, does the elephant win most of the time? :-)
Wow! I love it, would be great for trekking in the Pyrenees mountains over here!
Europe must be great for walking like this, with all the ancient paths that people would walk in the old days.
Don't trip that would ruin your day
@Benoit,
A very unique way to work and exercise at the same time!
Regards,
TCIII Admin