During the 2011 London Design Festival, Object & Line spotted the Moss Table, an experimental table that uses plants to generate energy on a micro level.
Based on the research of Cambridge University designers and scientists exploring how moss and algae can be used to power lights and other small scale domestic products, the moss table may one day be able to power your beside electronics, such as lamps or alarm clocks.
What would you use plants to power?
Lisa on 10.05.2011 at 16:50 PM
Cell phones, ipads, iBooks, Power tools like drills, then maybe chainsaws or lawnmowers (of course eventually we can get rid of those and just have moss instead of grass. Or clover.Moss is tricky in sunnier spots
Elisabeth on 10.06.2011 at 10:03 AM
This table looks really cool!
Claire on 10.08.2011 at 10:37 AM
How do we buy this?
Jaime (post author) on 10.08.2011 at 16:26 PM
Hi Claire, I believe this is a prototype and not for sale.
John on 11.22.2011 at 08:18 AM
Great concept.
But why the mains cable in the photos?
Surely if the moss is going to power the light you wouldn’t need a cable.
I know its a mock-up but it should resemble what the real one would be like.
msadzili on 12.20.2011 at 02:38 AM
that’s really good design,whether the plant is in it remain fertile?
Paolo on 01.16.2012 at 14:59 PM
Dear Chaire, as Jaime guessed, this table is just a prototype so far (so no for sale).
“The main cable in the photos”. Well spotted John! That cable send the current generate with the table to a system (computer + projector) that transform the electric signal in a graphic signal: the blue, green a purple bubbles projected on the wall behind the table.
NB the table in non generating enough power for the computer and project. Also, the light is powered by a battery inside the table as the moos can not produce constant power for powering the light. But, the moss is actually generating power and this power can be use to re-charge the battery.
The plants remain fertile in the table (of course they need water!)
Paolo.
Joelsy on 04.20.2012 at 11:07 AM
Unusual and beautiful table.