This is a pretty simple idea, just use the same tchnology used in motion activated streetlamps and put it to the opposite use.

As soon as a person walks into the range of the motion detector, the lamp will shut off with a classic flicker and buzz for extra effect. The pedestrian will believe that it burnt out right as they passed it, a creepy enough coincidence, but when it happens for every lamp all they way down the street, it will really freak them out.

The usefullness for this will be mainly just to mess with people, make the town a little more interesting, but it would also help keep people moving faster through suspicious areas full of government business where the public does't need to nose in. It would also make life more difficult for snipers near this government place, because the light would go out as soon as the victim stepped into it, and it would still serve to warn people in the know that people are coming.

These are not reccomended for very busy streets.
-- jellyfisherman, Dec 08 2008

Big Brother Lamp Post Big_20Brother_20Lamp_20Post
Could be combined with this idea ..... [8th of 7, Dec 09 2008]

SLIders http://en.wikipedia..._light_interference
Too many people are freaked out already... [Acme, Dec 09 2008]

Hmm. Dirk Gently, shirley?
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 08 2008


yes, but powered by technology, not gods, and are you calling me Shirley, or do you mean "surely"?
-- jellyfisherman, Dec 08 2008


Can't we just create a few gods? I mean, not the boring ones, but the fun ones?
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 08 2008


"Where have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods?
Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds...?"
-- 8th of 7, Dec 08 2008


perhaps heat de-activated streetlamps that go out when people have lurked too long underneath.
-- po, Dec 09 2008


Or sound-recognition and pressure activated ones which shoot out deathly spikes to dissuade people from leaning on them playing banjos.
-- squeak, Dec 09 2008


Happens to me rather frequently actually. I've come up with the theory that the heat and/or vibrations made by passing humans and vehicles can sometimes activate or deactivate halogen bulbs somehow. I'd recommend further testing, as it is a bit of an issue...
-- ye_river_xiv, Dec 09 2008



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