A tool for disaster relief has been invented by two graduate students in the form of an inflatable LED light powered by energy from the sun.
The project, called LuminAID, was developed by Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta, who were pursuing master degrees in architecture and design while developing the light, according to Design & Trend. A source of illumination at nighttime, when disaster zones can be even more dangerous, is often forgotten to be as important during disaster relief as water, food and shelter.
"When thinking about what we could design to make a difference, we decided to focus on affordable, renewable light because it had the potential to greatly improve the comfort, safety, and survival of disaster victims," the LuminAID website reads.
The portable LuminAID pack was designed to be able to absorb solar energy so it could provide victims with a full 10 to 16 hours of light at night, Discovery News reported. The pack weighs 2.9 ounces and is about the size of a cell phone. Users must inflate the pack by mouth with its built-in valve, and it can expand to the size of an airplane pillow. Air trapped in the pack is used to diffuse the LED light that is emitted.
The LuminAID team has partnered with non-profits and non-governmental organizations through the Give Light, Get Light program to make the packs available in hazardous areas in over a dozen countries, which include Hurricane Isaac in Haiti and Hurricane Sandy on the east coast of the U.S.
Sreshta brought the LuminAID project to the White House Maker Faire last month, which was hosted by President Barack Obama, and talked about how her team made the first prototypes with Radio Shack batteries, handheld heat-sealers and a variety of solar panels.
"We hope to continue to have fun experimenting with ideas, making things by hand, and perhaps most importantly, effect positive change through our inventions," she said.
LuminAID is capable of producing the same amount of light as one standard lantern, and can be very useful for camping, Design & Trend reported.
Those who buy the lights can get involved in a sponsorship program in which they can donate a light of their choice to several different relief organizations in Haiti, Ghana, India or the Philippines.
