There are around five billion mobile phones in use around the world todayThis lamp is powered by the small solar panel connected to it. As well as providing light, power from this panel can be used to charge mobile phones. This object has been chosen to reflect our ingenuity, and the challenges we face, in the twenty-first century. The kit uses a range of new materials and technologies, including silicon-chip technology, which can also be found in computers and mobile phones. Here it is used in the solar photovoltaic cell, which converts sunlight into electricity. Exposing this cell to eight hours of bright sunshine provides up to 100 hours of lamp light.
How is this technology changing lives?
There are currently 1.6 billion people across the world without access to an electrical grid. In these areas, objects such as this allow people to study, work and socialise outside daylight hours, vastly improving the quality of many lives. Additionally, households using solar energy rather than kerosene lamps are able to avoid the risk of fire and the damage to health that kerosene can cause. Once purchased, this kit costs very little to run, making it a very efficient option for many people living in the world's poorest countries.
Solar-powered lamp and charger
Contributed by British Museum
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About this object
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- Location
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Shenzhen, Guandong, China
- Culture
- Period
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AD 2010
- Theme
- Size
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Comments
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53 comments
- 31. At 09:53 on 22 October 2010, ACp wrote:
- 32. At 11:32 on 22 October 2010, Smilesping wrote:
- 33. At 12:41 on 22 October 2010, Ceppy wrote:
- 34. At 16:16 on 22 October 2010, Stephen Evans wrote:
- 35. At 16:24 on 22 October 2010, HenryHarborne77 wrote:
- 36. At 19:55 on 22 October 2010, jakemac wrote:
- 37. At 02:56 on 23 October 2010, babarufu wrote:
- 38. At 02:58 on 23 October 2010, Frank_Davis wrote:
- 39. At 04:27 on 23 October 2010
- 40. At 08:03 on 23 October 2010, Stephen Evans wrote:
pages 1Ìý 2Ìý 3Ìý 4Ìý5Ìý 6Ìýintelligent 9 year old asks us 'what is the use of it in the Arctic Circle or in England in Winter when the sun doesnt shine?'
AHOW in 100 objects has been the finest and most engaging programmes ever broadcast. I have enjoyed just about every one and been enraptured by many. Neil MacGregor's brings the objects alive and used each as a window onto a lost world and the people who inhabited it. It has opened up much of history to me by enabling the connections to humanity over the last 2 million fragile years. Thank you to all involved for such a wonderful series.
This was a beautiful final object. It offered so much hope. It felt as though nature were leaning over to help us to help ourselves, when this little lamp was viewed through the lens of 2000+ years of objects.
Its been a fascinating journey for almost a year, in listening to this great series. Neil Mac Gregor, his team at the British Museum and the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ are to be congratulated.
Slightly saddened that there was no object from that great Mediterranean Civilization the Phoenic1ans and for that matter the Etruscans. Possibly material for another series in the future.
Thanks to all involved.
Wonderful series, sorry it is over - thank you to all those involved for their inspiration and hard work.
I'm going to miss you, great series and I've learnt a lot!
Excellent series.Bravo to the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳.When one is fortunate enough as we are today to have such a well made programme,one has to admit that if the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ provided us with regular fare like this then they would in my opinion be entitled to double the licence fee.This programme is priceless, and Neil McGregor has done a fantastic job.Again to ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ and all those involved in the production of this series well done, well done !
It's been a very good series, but all too often the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s leftwing ideological bias becomes tiresome. Not all of us believe, for example, in global warming/climate change.
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Already have the publication that goes with the series on order.