There are around five billion mobile phones in use around the world todayThis lamp is powered by the small solar panel connected to it. As well as providing light, power from this panel can be used to charge mobile phones. This object has been chosen to reflect our ingenuity, and the challenges we face, in the twenty-first century. The kit uses a range of new materials and technologies, including silicon-chip technology, which can also be found in computers and mobile phones. Here it is used in the solar photovoltaic cell, which converts sunlight into electricity. Exposing this cell to eight hours of bright sunshine provides up to 100 hours of lamp light.
How is this technology changing lives?
There are currently 1.6 billion people across the world without access to an electrical grid. In these areas, objects such as this allow people to study, work and socialise outside daylight hours, vastly improving the quality of many lives. Additionally, households using solar energy rather than kerosene lamps are able to avoid the risk of fire and the damage to health that kerosene can cause. Once purchased, this kit costs very little to run, making it a very efficient option for many people living in the world's poorest countries.
Solar-powered lamp and charger
Contributed by British Museum
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About this object
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Shenzhen, Guandong, China
- Culture
- Period
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AD 2010
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Comments
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53 comments
- 11. At 19:59 on 9 October 2010, Ian Jameson wrote:
- 12. At 07:32 on 10 October 2010, vbar wrote:
- 13. At 22:37 on 10 October 2010
- 14. At 11:01 on 11 October 2010, maryelfitzR wrote:
- 15. At 16:28 on 11 October 2010, Michael_J_Goss wrote:
- 16. At 17:04 on 12 October 2010, David Prudames wrote:
- 17. At 21:03 on 13 October 2010, Kate wrote:
- 18. At 23:01 on 13 October 2010, Ian wrote:
- 19. At 23:11 on 13 October 2010, Ian wrote:
- 20. At 10:12 on 14 October 2010, BridgetMcKenzie wrote:
pages 1Ìý 2Ìý3Ìý 4Ìý 5Ìý 6ÌýTo my mind, the most important object for todays world has to be the thermionic valve, the invention of which started the worldwide communications and media which so shapes our lives today, and impacts on nearly everything we do. Without its successor, the silicone gate, leading to chips with millions of transistors, our world would not function
I really enjoy reading the comments here. Tom Barth's story is beautiful and I absolutley agree the should be a Torah Scroll in the BM to represent those people/voices/cultures/faith/lives/perserverance/survival.
The Bomber water colour also a tremendous story and huge impact on so many people's lives. I do hope the BM is listening to these voices and considering how bes to preserve these items of cultural import. They have so many of other people's societies a few from the British society and cultural history would be good too:)
The plastic bag is iconic.
Electricity essential to our life as we live it as is the silicon chip. Without these two items our lives and world would be so very different. However since they were both discovered/invented in the US and you can't really get the originals now:) I don't you'll pick either though I see the value in there place here.
None of these however are strictly from 2000-2010. So as much as I like the ideas no one has yet touched on the point of the specificity of the time slot.
As much as I share the dread in your voice at the idea Mr Crawford, I'm thinking exactly the same thoughts, however the iPhone has redesigned our communications and the expectations we as a whole place upon our society and ourselves. Which ever company began it, they were all trying. The fact that a US company got there first shouldn't negate the obvious genius and it's place in our culture and society.
Awaiting moderation
I agree with another contribution. The last objecct should be left as a question mark so that we can add our own contribution. Again agreeing with another contribution where would any of this be without the silicone chip?
There are two items that have been revolutionary in changing culture in the last hundred years: the internal combustion engine and the microchip. Both are also things of beauty to many!
I've been really enjoying some of the suggestions here.
In case you haven't spotted it, there's a special page on the site on which you can see what other people think would make an interesting object of today and tell us what you would choose.
It's here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/get-involved/my100th/
David Prudames, British Museum
Can we please have some more objects after the end of the series? My life will be miserable without Neil McGregor's voice every day!
David's link should be http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/get-involved/my100th/
The 100th object should probably be a laptop computer or a touch-screen mobile phone. This shows not only the technological progression in electronics but, more importantly, the social change brought by the instant communication and instant access to the information held on the internet offered via mobile phones and internet connected computers.
I'm really pleased that the choice for the final object is a solar powered lamp. One of the key reasons for hope in the future is solar. The work of charities like SolarAid, in converting people from kerosene to solar lamps, is vitally important in the global concerted effort to tackle climate change. So, I'm really surprised that you don't mention this factor in your list of benefits. You mention the risk of fire and damage to health from kerosene but not its contribution to global warming. I've greatly appreciated the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's collaboration with the British Museum on this project but over this period have also been shocked and dismayed at its coverage of climate change. Today we've seen a leaked email from the Ö÷²¥´óÐã explaining its overspend on coverage of the Chilean miners, afforded by reducing the number of reporters at the Cancun Climate summit to one. We desperately need the Ö÷²¥´óÐã to wake up to the public hunger for information on climate solutions and I hope the selection of this solar lamp is one step towards that waking.