My idea is to have a pair of sunglasses with solar panels in the lenses. The solar power could be used for maybe a walkman.
-- gizmo, Dec 16 2001

Transparent solar panels http://www.technolo...ep00/benchmark4.asp
[phoenix, Dec 17 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Transparent solar panels - Part Deux http://www.ecotech.com.hk/pv.htm
[phoenix, Dec 17 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Transparent solar panels - The Quickening http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_EH323
[phoenix, Dec 17 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Solar brick http://www.halfbake..._20brick#1003444058
Same material, different use [phoenix, Dec 17 2001, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Electrochromic sunglasses http://www.refr-spd...arkets.html#eyewear
LED is nice but SPD may be less hardware intensive. [reensure, Dec 17 2001]

Solar brick http://www.halfbake...ick.html#1003444058
Same material, different use [phoenix, Oct 21 2004]

wow - croissant, you are far too sensible to be here, love to your mum
-- po, Dec 16 2001


BTW, can I have your autograph - just you remember who encouraged you all those years ago....
-- po, Dec 16 2001


you could add little water wheels to the rims for when it rains so you have hydro electric power too which would power the mini lens wipers.
-- notripe, Dec 16 2001


But the question is, will it work?

Assuming you can find a more-or-less transparent solar panel suitable for making sunglasses which can provide 100W/m^2 (0.01W/cm^2), and your walkman requires 0.5W, you'll need rather large glasses: a surface area of around 50cm^2. I think that in practice, you'll have problems getting even this level of efficiency, although I'm not an expert in such things.
-- cp, Dec 17 2001


Oh, I see how it is. Y'all fishbone my solar brick idea, but the kid gets biscuits. Uh-huh.
-- phoenix, Dec 17 2001


[Pertinent Oak]'s scheme has the added advantage that the baseball cap becomes a dangerous weapon: solar panels are not reknowned for being particularly soft.
-- cp, Dec 17 2001


Solar boler?
-- nick_n_uit, Dec 17 2001


If you couldn't power an entire walkman, I daresay you could run an FM radio off it - they use a significantly less amount of power.
-- stupop, Dec 17 2001


have a croissant, I could use one.
-- atomic point dexter, Dec 17 2001


cp.. that's just two lenses at 5 cm times 5 cm (height width) each, assuming you mean 50 square meters, not 50 meters squared (i think you do).. not that big, i've worn bigger. wait, that just means i'm a nerd... :)

(also if they were wraparound style, some of the panelling could be along the sides, for those of you who would rather look a little more posh)
-- Urania, Dec 17 2001


mabe there could be a solar headband for girls.
-- alexo, Dec 17 2001


P O you are just jealous, just because you have capitals you look down on us lowercase creatures;

AND I know who you are...... nur nur nu nur nur!
-- po, Dec 17 2001


I feel dead worried about the pupils of your eyes.
-- maggie, Dec 17 2001


[UB]: <sucking up> But the light from her smile is more radiant still.</sucking up>
-- pottedstu, Dec 17 2001


...heeeeelp.
-- gizmo, Dec 19 2001


Listen here you horrible lot. i gotta caution you about the dangers of trying to harness this kind of energy. I once had a very bad accident with the electrical charge contained in just one of the *ching* sparkles off my teeth as I smiled. Anyway, it's winter.
Just saw a lovely orange sunrise out of the office window (southfacing - I can't believe the sun rises *and sets* in almost the same place! Pathetic).
UB, that's enough about swallows. I prefer guillemots anyway.
The earliest solarpoweredknickers appearance will be May at the very least. Possibly June.
-- lewisgirl, Dec 19 2001


watch it.
-- lewisgirl, Dec 19 2001


«Must not forget that one swallow does not a summer make.» I always thought it was 'one swallow does not a supper make'.
-- cp, Dec 19 2001


Are we talking African swallows?
-- gizmo, Dec 19 2001


Hmm. And I always thought it was "One swallow does not a relationship make."
-- Guncrazy, Dec 19 2001


*gulp* What? I couldn't quite make that out … did you say "Walk outdoors, face due west, look up eight degrees at the sunset and wait?" My power is low, maybe we should wait 'till tomorrow at sunup for to end this.
-- reensure, Dec 20 2001


I have to agree with PeterSealy, you can not see through solar panels so that would kind of defeat the purpose...but you get an A for effort
-- Haywood J, Jan 16 2002


well it depends if you think a coconut is a supper cos an african swallow could carry a coconut but then your problem is that its non-migratory you see?

ah fart in your general direcshion you silly eengleesh kerniggits
-- chud, Jan 16 2002


We are the knights that say "croissant"
-- gizmo, Jan 16 2002


[Haywood J] (if that's your real name) follow the links above to find out how wrong you are.
-- phoenix, Jan 16 2002


Can I get these with a prescription?

!!!
-- spaceman_spiff, Jan 17 2002



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