Boston Residents will be able to Charge iPhones from “Smart” Benches [Photo]

According to The Boston Globe the parks of Boston will soon see tech benches with the option of charging mobile devices. They will allow citizens charge their iPhones and iPads using solar energy panels.

Soofa startup and MIT Media Lab designed the benches. They have a built-in solar panel, two USB-ports and some sensors. The later can appreciate the levels of air pollution, noise, the number of passers-by around the benches, as well as let you know whether the USB-ports are free.

The last option is not useful, at first glance, but imagine what if you could make your life easier looking up the current noise level at your favorite park or square online, and choosing the least crowded place to work in the fresh air.

«Soofa is the first step to smart urban furniture,” – said the General Director of Soofa and the co-author of the ideas Sandra Richter in her statement. She said that the purpose of the project is to “return” people back into the streets and cultivate a habit to work outside a stuffy rooms among Americans.

The data will be loaded into the web and help citizens find a “smart” bench in a quiet and clean place. One Soofa bench is worth 3000 dollars and comes with a 25 year guarantee. In future versions benches will support wireless charging of devices.

Source: macdigger.ru