cool electronics

Fresh air on demand? That’s the suggestion behind the ‘plant knapsack,’ an out-of-the-box idea that could possibly replace lightweight paper masks in the battle versus air contamination. The creation of five Dutch pupils, the ‘Plant Bag’ uses fan to attract in outdoors air via the origins of a hedge housed within. A HEPA (high-efficiency particle air) filter gives the sorted air a second pass before the user breathes it in though a connected collar. It’s early days yet, however the design has already won a ‘Fight of Principles’ challenge commissioned by Stichting Innovatie Glastuinbouw Nederland, a not-for-profit company committed to advancing socially valuable technology in greenhouse gardening. The next step, according to team leader Marnix de Kroon, is creating a working model.