Power@Play

'The total amount of energy in the universe is constant', this is a frightening truth, elucidated by the law of conservation of energy.

Something which sounds even scarier today, when one begins to consider that all that energy expended by those cheerleaders dancing at the IPL, has now necessarily depleted this already fragile level.

Just kidding...

But worldwide panic lurks imminently, because our conventional sources of energy have started drying up. What with the reserves of fossil fuels eroding like the patience levels of drivers at traffic signals. Soon the day infamously referred to as 'peak oil' (beyond which oil reserves will dip), will suddenly appear prominently on unsuspecting windscreens.

This issue will quickly start dominating world headlines, pushing staggeringly important news features, like what people will be wearing at cine red carpet occasions, or how many public squabbles stack up to make a true red blooded superstar; to the relative obscurity of add on supplements and such (hopefully).

While painstaking research and much back breaking work has already been initiated in this field, that has seen the emergence of wind, solar, nuclear and bio energy alternatives as somewhat viable options, are there any more 'obvious' energy sources (kinetic, aesthetic or otherwise), whose potential we have been guilty of overlooking?

Human behavior is many a time a lavish disbursement of fruitless energy, and what follows is an examination of all such pointless expenditures. Their revelation and subsequent upgradation to 'energy wells' though, just might hold some hope for fuelling our journey ahead...

The triumph of form over substance

If you ever needed proof for the old adage 'the pen is mightier than the sword' try filling out an appraisal form with a sword, though you just might carry one along, if things don't quite go your way this year.

It would be interesting to note how much time is spent in filling forms of various types-from college applications to insurance policy forms to complaint forms to claim forms etc. And after you go through the nightmarish process of completing one, it usually requires to be amended at least once (and here I'm being optimistic).

What if we fitted sensors to exploit the rapid and agitated movement of pen over paper, and then transform it into a more usable form of electricity? For once rep tape and bureaucracy could have advantages that would even bring the common man power.

Transforming traffic trauma

Despite the unnecessary alliteration, this might be another opportunity to convert something unpleasant into a more meaningful version.

Take any traffic signal, and one notices that most vehicles are blowing their horns like they are seeking a long lost brother on the other side. While no amount of fines seem to curb this behavior, what if we went the opposite way and actually encouraged them to honk even more?

What one needs is a diaphragm mechanism of some sort and all the energy from the horns (which lesser souls might have stooped to call 'horny energy') gets converted into power and the like.

Perhaps a sound way to deal with the problem

Insure and be secure

Potential difference, which is at the heart of the rather current voltage story, is all about capturing two points which have a substantial difference in charge. And surprisingly, you might find one such volcano of potential, in the behavior of your insurance agent.

The operative principle is being able to capture his enthusiasm levels, at two different points in time.

Before you signed on the policy, his energy (charge) levels were reminiscent of a testosterone challenged male teenager in the erotic section of a bookstore (why only teenager here one might rightly argue).

But once you have scribbled on the dotted line, his energy in terms of regular follow up, resembles that of the an adult male accompanying his lovely wife, on a shoe selection spree...hardly a 'sole' stirring experience for the finest among us.

Star and Style

Every Bollywood star today, has considerably elongated media exposure, before any of their upcoming releases.

This involves interviews which espouse such thought provoking comments as, 'this is my most different movie yet,' 'I'm always a bar dancer in most movies, but this is the first one where I use the pole, that's why its poles apart you see', 'And I'm not going around with my costar, we are only sharing fluids...sorry we share a fluid chemistry between us...can you edit that?'

The energy entailed in convincing yourself to say these inane things, is a tribute in itself to their acting prowess. Now if only you could apply your mind to fixing electronic sensors on these stars, without getting into anatomically provocative thoughts.

Cabin Chaos

Another surge of energy which might get this concept to fly; is what one encounters in an aircraft once it lands. While most passengers resemble the humpback whale in hibernation for the larger part of the flight, once it touches down they get out of their seats with the agility of Usain bolting for the world record.

This transition from a low to high energy state; can perhaps be captured by having digital devices installed on the overhead baggage bins. And if you manage to invent a way of registering a mild shock as impatient hands clamor for the handle, what fun.

Stumped for words

Cricket telecasts now have come to be preceded and succeeded with capsules that talk you into the ashes (couldn't resist that one).

From overanalyzing who does what and why, to displaying odious graphics that could only have been conceived by a sadomasochistic geometry dropout terrorist, the presenters insist on regaling you with their presence when their absence would have been most welcome. All that energy uselessly expended even before (and after) the ball is hit...

Shastri once asked Sehwag, what his strategy was going in, Sehwag simply replied, 'what strategy? The ball is there to be hit."

Oh for the pristine simplistic beauty of that thought.

The phony glance

The mobile phone in many ways has us hostage these days. While there was a time it was looked at as the third screen (after the television and computer) it now seeks to leave them both far behind.

Wherever people go they carry their mobile phones, almost like external organs, but unlike organs you look at your mobile phone every second (yes I know you might be doing the former as well), even if it is not a head turn, it is via a swift movement of the pupils.

In meetings, at social gatherings, in traffic, while jogging we always ensure it's in our line of sight

Thinking about how we can leverage this 'checking out the mobile effort', which is largely instinctive and involuntary, more fruitfully, might just solve half of our energy problems

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In conclusion the energy crises will soon be upon us. But this is a time, as in all other times of crises, to seek solutions beyond the obvious and the fettered. So keep your eyes peeled for where the next major power surge will come from. It could be from something you never thought possible before, and might be hovering just under your nose...