Suit of the Future: Hague’s Institute of Human Obsolescence Figures Out How to Use Human Body to Mine
TechnologyBit News Today2 min read
Last week, researchers at the Institute of Human Obsolescence in The Hague unveiled their latest creation: a mining rig worn like a suit.
The experimental garment, which looks like a heavily modified bulletproof vest, contains a number of application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips. These mine cryptocurrencies as the wearer moves about in their day.
The technology has been in the works for much of the year. The long-term goal is to make the chips effective enough that any human motion would be sufficient to power them.
But for now, the wearable is energy-intensive, and the output isn't massive. The researchers only had enough crypto to have a solid team send out several press releases and a press kit. ## Mining hardware has shrunk in size, energy requirements
They saw the need to make mine rigs more portable, energy-efficient and less expensive. The mining rig vest is the latest step forward.
"The human body already generates more than enough energy to carry out all its basic functions, even with extreme exertion," says Dr. Henk de Vaal, the lead on the project. "So why not use that energy for something more?"
The human body, even at rest, generates several thousand watts. And with movement, it can generate an enormous amount of power.
But de Vaal says that making a wearable rig with that much computing power is a challenge. Figure out how to do it, though, and you have a potentially revolutionary product.
"Our dream is that anyone could just put on a jacket and mine away," de Vaal says. ## Problems to be solved
For the moment, though, there are still key issues to be solved.
First, the wearable has to be durable over several years. The human body is always in motion, and movement can be tough on mining rigs.
Second, the chips have to be efficient. ASIC chips are the most efficient kind for mining, but they also require a lot of power. As a result, the wearable can be quite energy-intensive at the moment.
Third, there's the issue of cooling. Mining rigs run hot, and wearables are worn close to the body. The researchers will figure out a way to keep the user safe and comfortable, while keeping the chips running.
Finally, there's the issue of cost. The rigs are still relatively expensive, and the researchers hope to bring the cost down to an acceptable level. Cheaper rigs would be more accessible to a wider audience, which would support more decentralized mining. ## Bringing energy-efficient mining to the masses
There's still a lot of work to do. But if the researchers are successful, they'll bring a new way to mine crypto to the masses. It's a potentially disruptive idea that could have a huge impact on the entire crypto ecosystem.
For the researchers, it's a way to push the boundaries of what's possible. They're dreaming big-not just imagining a wearable mining rig. But a world where anyone, anywhere, can participate in crypto-mining, in ways that are affordable, efficient and eco-friendly.
It may be a while before you slip on a mining rig before going to work, or climb a mountain in one. But if the research continues to progress, and the problems are solved, it's a future that could very well become a reality.
