You can charge your smartphone on a bench in Boston. Solar power is used.

How many useful things can be done for sustainability by using a simple bench for more than just sitting. Especially if technology helps give each object, even such widespread street furniture, multiple functions: says the mayor. And indeed, in Boston, a revolutionary innovation is spreading in the world of smartphones and the intelligent use of alternative energy in public administration. Thus, simple benches were born, but they have two additional functions beyond their original purpose. First, they allow smartphones to be charged using solar energy, and therefore at no cost. Second, they monitor air quality and noise pollution.

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BENCH THAT CHARGES YOUR SMARTPHONE

Conceived by three PhD students from the MIT Media Lab and created by Changing Environments, a spin-off of the MIT Media Lab, sofafa, that's the name of the special solar bench, thanks to the presence of a photovoltaic panel, it not only allows citizens to relax while traveling around the city but also to recharge their electronic devices at no cost.

SOOFA PHOTOVOLTAIC BENCH

Through wireless connection, Soofa benches are also able to collect various environmental information, regarding the way people live and use public spaces, and upload them to the official website so they can be viewed by all users. The Soofa smart benches were initially placed in the city's green areas, but they are also designed to be installed in the city center.

(Featured image taken from the site Built in Boston and those accompanying the text taken from Soofa website)

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