Self Powered Twist Camer

Self Powered Twist Camera

A group concept by Bryn Seymour and Jon Rothapfel, Product Design students, Newcastle TAFE, Australia.
Digital cameras have spawned and age where nasty chemical photography is all but a thing of the past. Since their introduction digital cameras have become more complex, thus requiring more parts which in turn is creating the next generation of complex disposable waste.
Inspired by other contemporary self powered devices such as radios and lamps, the Twist Camera is a small portable digital camera that uses a winding mechanism for power and would be capable of taking several photographs per cycle of the mechanism.
The Twist Cameras features are minimal with the view finder being a simple hole in the body for the user to look through, a knob to wind for energy, one button for shooting a photograph and a multi coloured L.E.D. (Light Emitting Diode) for the user interface.
Photographs can be uploaded from the camera via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) plug that is hidden under the winding cap to a computer for further distribution and viewing.
It is intended that such a device could support resolution of up to 5MP with current technologies and find use in a range of diverse areas such as recreation, children's products and third world use.
The self winding mechanism is also intended to highlight how the latest technologies can live in a more harmonious way with us in our society and hopefully make people aware that energy does not just only come from a power point.