The Soccket
By: Morgan Ludke
“We want people to realize that making a difference doesn’t have to be boring. It can be as simple and fun as playing soccer.”
-Jessica Matthews, co-creator of the Soccket
The Soccket is no ordinary soccer ball. The Soccket harnesses power and turns it into something magical: light. The Soccket, only about two ounces heavier than a normal soccer ball, can turn 30 minutes of play, into 3 hours of light! The inside of the Soccket is complex. Inside, there are house gyroscopic mechanisms that take the kinetic energy from the ball and produce enough energy for three hours of light.
According to www.ecogeek.org, “A pendulum inside the Soccket ball swings when the ball moves, generating clean energy for a rechargeable battery stored inside.” The amazing Soccket just gets better and better; it is composed of foam, that will keep the Soccket from deflating.
According to Matt McFarland of the Washington Post, “The ball has a headphone jack built in which is connected to a charging station to transmit power. USB cords are then attached to the charging station and used to charge up to five portable lights at a time.”
The Soccket is helping and making an impact on kids from all over. According to http://www.unchartedplay.com/impact/, “The SOCCKET is currently in Mexico and the United States. We had large pilot programs in Nigeria, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa. SOCCKETs are scheduled for distribution to Benin, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and South Africa.”
Kids get to play soccer and have fun, while making an impact on their families' lives. The Socckets are often kept at school, which encourages parents to send their kids to school, so that they can have light later. The Soccket is also very inspiring to kids. Julia Silverman, co-creator of the Soccket said, “The kids thought it was magic, but I could also see the wheels turning in their heads. One boy came back with a drawing of a ball with windmills sticking out of it. They wanted to be inventors, too.”
The light from the Soccket can be used to help kids see to do their homework, and can even help doctors and other people assist to any medical emergencies at night or in the afternoon.
Melissa, a worker from Uncharted Play, said that the Soccket can also have the effect of “Encouraging kids in the developing world to get outside and get active.” and can also have the effect to be “Inspiring people to think about inventions and technologies in a different way, non-traditional way.”
The Soccket is very innovative. According to Melissa, “It's an old technology being used in a new way…” Melissa said, “We think the design is innovative because it is combining two things (play and power) in an attractive and functional way.”
Kids are inspired to create new ways to contribute to helping energy, and other worldly issues. Soccer is a very popular sport, and the Soccket helps give power to playing for enjoyment.
Jessica Matthews said, “If we just wanted to give people power, we’d just give them solar panels. The purpose is reaching people in a way that’s enjoyable and fun and exciting.”
The Soccket is very innovative, because it a new and creative way to play soccer, and is a new and creative way to help the world.
By: Morgan Ludke
“We want people to realize that making a difference doesn’t have to be boring. It can be as simple and fun as playing soccer.”
-Jessica Matthews, co-creator of the Soccket
The Soccket is no ordinary soccer ball. The Soccket harnesses power and turns it into something magical: light. The Soccket, only about two ounces heavier than a normal soccer ball, can turn 30 minutes of play, into 3 hours of light! The inside of the Soccket is complex. Inside, there are house gyroscopic mechanisms that take the kinetic energy from the ball and produce enough energy for three hours of light.
According to www.ecogeek.org, “A pendulum inside the Soccket ball swings when the ball moves, generating clean energy for a rechargeable battery stored inside.” The amazing Soccket just gets better and better; it is composed of foam, that will keep the Soccket from deflating.
According to Matt McFarland of the Washington Post, “The ball has a headphone jack built in which is connected to a charging station to transmit power. USB cords are then attached to the charging station and used to charge up to five portable lights at a time.”
The Soccket is helping and making an impact on kids from all over. According to http://www.unchartedplay.com/impact/, “The SOCCKET is currently in Mexico and the United States. We had large pilot programs in Nigeria, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa. SOCCKETs are scheduled for distribution to Benin, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and South Africa.”
Kids get to play soccer and have fun, while making an impact on their families' lives. The Socckets are often kept at school, which encourages parents to send their kids to school, so that they can have light later. The Soccket is also very inspiring to kids. Julia Silverman, co-creator of the Soccket said, “The kids thought it was magic, but I could also see the wheels turning in their heads. One boy came back with a drawing of a ball with windmills sticking out of it. They wanted to be inventors, too.”
The light from the Soccket can be used to help kids see to do their homework, and can even help doctors and other people assist to any medical emergencies at night or in the afternoon.
Melissa, a worker from Uncharted Play, said that the Soccket can also have the effect of “Encouraging kids in the developing world to get outside and get active.” and can also have the effect to be “Inspiring people to think about inventions and technologies in a different way, non-traditional way.”
The Soccket is very innovative. According to Melissa, “It's an old technology being used in a new way…” Melissa said, “We think the design is innovative because it is combining two things (play and power) in an attractive and functional way.”
Kids are inspired to create new ways to contribute to helping energy, and other worldly issues. Soccer is a very popular sport, and the Soccket helps give power to playing for enjoyment.
Jessica Matthews said, “If we just wanted to give people power, we’d just give them solar panels. The purpose is reaching people in a way that’s enjoyable and fun and exciting.”
The Soccket is very innovative, because it a new and creative way to play soccer, and is a new and creative way to help the world.