Imagine owning a treadmill that is multipurpose and not only helps you burn the calories, but also doubles up as device for washing soiled clothes!
This innovative concept can soon be a reality thanks to the ingenuity of Si Hyeong Ryu, a Seoul-based industrial designer. Ryu has conceptualized a treadmill which will enable users to deploy their kinetic energy, i.e. the energy which an object/person possesses due to motion, to wash clothes.
"My concept is a washing machine and treadmill that uses human kinetic power. It can help people who live in urban areas and want to more healthy," says Ryu.
Ryu's treadmill is ring-shaped and has aptly been named "The Wheel" in keeping with the device's form. The Wheel is not you regular run-of-the-mill treadmill not just because of its shape, but also because it has wash canisters inside. The canisters can be packed with washing detergent, water and dirty clothes like you would in a normal washing machine.
The washing balls in the innovative eco-friendly treadmill also reduce the water consumption thanks to the shape and size of the canisters packed inside The Wheel.
The operational mechanics of The Wheel are also quite simple as the individual using the treadmill is only required to jog and the resulting motion will fuel the canisters into spinning action. This motion will in turn set the laundry into action.
The treadmill also saves on power consumption as the surplus power generated gets saved onto a battery as electricity that can be used to rev-up The Wheel on days when an individual is not jogging.
The Wheel also has a flexible display in the front, which provides a visual experience for the treadmill user. It also has CIGS thin solar panels that help absorb "solar energy and day-light in interior." The solar panel energy can be substituted for man power when the latter is not available.
The novel treadmill is an entrant for the 2014 Electrolux Design Lab competition, which challenges designers and artists all over the world to reinvent and rethink. The theme for this year's competition is "The Home of Tomorrow" and The Wheel which is a "crossover between gym bike and washing machine" per the designer, is a beautiful blend of utility with eco consciousness.
