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The Bloom Box

  • Feb. 22nd, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Grants Pass
gaaneden
It is very rare that a new technology makes me rethink the apocalypse.

I'm serious. The technology is called the "Bloom Box" by BloomEnergy and I am amazed by it. 60 Minutes did a special on the technology. Go watch it. It's only 13 minutes long. You'll understand the rest of my thoughts afterwards.

Suddenly, I can see an apocalyptic scenario where I still have some of the niceties of civilization—namely electricity to run things like heat, light and cooking devices. Suddenly, I can see a hot market for still working Bloom Boxes (renamed to something like "energy cubes") and the need to learn how to use, fix and run this new technology. It has hit me in all the right places. This new technology really, honestly could be the future. (Not to mention all of the cool things I could see it used for—camping, remote cabins, emergency kits, etc…)

Suddenly, and most importantly, I can see the apocalypse a bit farther away than I've been seeing it in my mind's eye.

I want to believe that BloomEnergy really has invented the Next Big Thing and I really want one of those Bloom Boxes in my backyard now. I would be happy to be a test subject for them.

Comments

( 5 comments — Leave a comment )
panzerwalt
Feb. 22nd, 2010 10:32 am (UTC)
O_O


wow...
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jasonbeast
Feb. 22nd, 2010 02:20 pm (UTC)
Mhm. Heinlein had something called Shipstones mentioned in some of his works. Very efficient energy production and storage, and completely proprietary, to the point where if anyone other than a specialist from the Shipstone company tried to open it to figure out how it worked, it would very nastily explode. Kind of in that ballpark, for me ... sans explosions, I hope.
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palecur
Feb. 22nd, 2010 07:20 pm (UTC)
This sounds like a substantially improved version of the old GE Microgen project, which was rolled out and then hastily rolled back in several years ago. I really wanted the tech then, and I still do. I'm pleased it's out, and that it's a small company that's doing it. Especially since someone I care about a good deal works there.
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mscjec
Feb. 22nd, 2010 08:07 pm (UTC)
Thanks...i have a post-apocalyptic story that requires civ. The problem is not in the tech but in the lack of centralized government. In essence: what happens when BIG governments all fail, leaving the infrastructure there. My take is a action/fun/scifi tale of a Robin Hood-type group that decides to cut off the major land mass of the Cape Cod region from the mainland of Massachussetts. Though it goes with weaponized cars, the story is 'character driven' (no pun intended). It's scifi - I get to talk about politics, religion, madness, and the nature of reality! It's called "Rotary Rats" and I need those electrical cubes to power the cars!
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covenantscave
Feb. 22nd, 2010 08:08 pm (UTC)
Looks like it still needs natural gas, so depending on the nature of the various apocalypti (ha) may or may not help. If it works nicely with propane tanks that would be v. interesting.
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( 5 comments — Leave a comment )