F*cking brilliant!

Self wound (automatic) watches have been around for over a century. Both Siwss and Japanese models where the slef winding mechanism powers a small electric generator and thus a quartz movement.

This is a tried and true technology. I often wonder why no one has tried to adapt it to such things as sell phones and portable music devices.

Where do the headphones get their power?

It seems to me that a wired set that is powered by the yo-yo would make more sense.

An MP3 player without an amplifier in it doesn't need much power, though... All it needs to do is read its memory and do some math.

that's a pretty! sweet idea! no batteries & a free yo yo!! wow, the things people think up!

according to project description, headphones need to be recharged every once in a while using the yoyo.

Instead of making a device with one function, why not use the same technology to create a yo-yo generated USB battery that could power all sorts of small electronic devices? I know it doesn't have the cool factor that a mp3 yo-yo does, but it would have greater utility than just a mp3 player.

I'm sure it will evolve over time but this is just awesome to see.

I wonder how long it is going to take before they just start building solar panels into things such as cell phones and MP3 players.

Designers really need to step it up in some of those categories.

i've never been a huge fan of Yo-Yo, but this one might be the first one i'll buy as soon as it arrives to the stores.

Wow, this is really quite cool! but its not the only thing you can do with a yoyo! http://www.yoyoing.com/videos/play.php?vid=2158

Simply brilliant idea.
congratulations, looking forward for more use and more of such devices from the inventor

I think sweetest thing ive seen yet.

One question... Does the yoyo have a transaxle of is it fixed?

Hmmm. I /want/ to like it. But I really, really doubt it's going to see the light of day.
I'm having a hard time believing that their power estimates are accurate. If the yo-yo is going to go down, and come back up, the generator can't take all the kinetic energy from it - So only a fraction of the power from a given toss would be available... very, very little power. I could maybe, MAYBE see this running an MP3 player and a Digital Ink display. MP3 player, display, touch screen and a Bluetooth transmitter? Not a chance - Definately not with stuff you can pull off a shelf now.

The design (See URL) requires a LOT of unique parts - the ring-shaped LiIon batteries (Necessary to keep balance - Coin cells or standard packs would make it wobble) alone would cost a king's fortune to get produced. Likewise for the 'AC Synchronous motor', which would have to be custom built.

Not as unreasonable as the blink-powered night-vision contacts, or the people-powered elevators, but what can we expect from a magazine that's been talking about flying cars since the 1950's?

when is it go n to be out in stores and what stores..and how much is it go n to cost??? it is kool as hell tho =]