7 amazing human-powered gadgets

By Cat DiStasio

Electricity runs the world we live in -- but we often overlook the fact that our own bodies generate quite a bit of energy just by doing what we do. This has led engineers and designers to create a wide array of human-powered gadgets that are as creative as they are fascinating. Many are developed as a response to needs in developing nations, where the grid is unreliable or expensive, but others come about purely as convenient answers to First World predicaments. You'll be amazed to learn what the human body can do, whether it's generating electricity for light simply by grabbing hold of a flashlight or making a sweet winter beanie while kicking back with a good book.

1 / 7

One rockin' knitting chair

This chair totally rocks -- and while you’re relaxing away, it knits you a warm hat! Using the energy generated by simply kicking back and relaxing, the “Rocking-Knit” draws yarn from a spool and knits it into a hat right above your head. We’re not sure how many hours of rocking it takes to produce a new piece of winter headgear, but it's definitely a cool way to utilize energy that would otherwise be wasted.