How many people do you know who bounce a knee under their desk all day? Many people who work at a computer for most of the day have energy to burn, and nowhere to burn it. meanwhile, road-warriors often have to scramble for power when they realize their laptop is running out of power.

The concept of using human power to supply energy to electronics devices is not new, however most implementations out there lack one key thing for portable electronics: portability. Resembling a wa-wa pedal, PowerAnywhere is a small, foldable, foot-powered generator that works on a similar principle as old-fashioned singer sewing machines. The foot motion is transferred to a flywheel, which then drives a DC generator, which is then connected to a rechargeable battery. When the bettery has sufficient charge, it will supply standard AC 120v household current by way of an inverter, or a DC-powered device up to 24v.

The device could generate power for a variety of electronics with, like iPods, mobile phones, laptops, etc… As this is powered by only one foot, the generator alone may not provide enough power to keep the average laptop going. Rather, the user would try to keep the charge topped up throughout the day, and use it only when needed. For example, it may sit under the desk being charged for 2-3 hours, but only provide an hour’s worth of power for a power-hungry laptop.

The user could generate power in a variety of ways. Some might push with their heel, others with their toe. To build up a charge more quickly, someone might stand up and bounce on it with one foot for a few minutes. The device would ideally be foldable, and fit easily inside a suitcase, briefcase, laptop case, or carry by hand. It could also have an option to snap on to the back of your bike to generate power while you coast down hill.