Right now I'm listening to one of my favourite Robert Miles tunes, Full Moon, at a fairly loud level with my subwoofer turned on... My only hope is for a noise complaint such that I get evicted and can break my lease without being liable for the remaining month's rent... *grins*
That aside for now...
I'm doing some theorising on what would be required to get the age-old walking companion, the staff, back into popular consideration. Now I realise that old me still walk about with canes and all, but there's a fairly substantial difference between the former and a staff.
First off, a staff is generally longer and much sturdier. It was used not just by old men, but by just about any travelling types. It was a constant companion to Western travellers who set out on foot.
Possibly the main reason it is no longer common is that taking it in a vehical would now be unweildy. What follows is some postulation on creating a modern urban techno-staff, with some capabilities of the staves of old, and some new features...
Cue the Imperial March! Yay!
- First, the staff would be hollow, made out of a super-durable yet light metal tube (titanium perhap?) able to be separated into sections and screwed together. These sections would be modular and interchangeable, so any four (or three or two for shorter variations) could be combined, plus a bottom stopper and a staff-head.
- Staff segments would be around 35 cm in length each, the bottom stopper would be around 10 cm in length and would be solid (for sturdyness) and the top head would screw on as though it's just another module, except that it would only extend about 5cm above the top of the top segment, and would rather extend downwards and partially encompass the staff.
Ideas for staff segments:
- Flashlight -- fill the tube with a modified flashlight -- bateries add good weight, so it could be strategically positioned in the staff for balance.
- Mini-toolset -- a staff segment that stored a multi-bit screw-driver (in a fashion that wouldn't let the bits rattle around to make noise) and possibly some other tool -- plyer comes to mind, or just a standard multi-tool.
- A half-litre of water could be stored in a sealed segment for a long time potentially and could be used in a pinch (when it's 35C or higher outside)
- Some sort of non-perishable emergency ration could also be stored in one module -- although less required in an urban environment, it would be nice if the staff was used for hiking or somesuch.
- Some sort of data-storage could be integrated... just a place to store a memory stick (or somesuch)... and could be stored in a module designed solely for computer users enthousiasts, perhaps a cheap digital camera in it with the lense on one end, storage of data on the other... (think point and shoot) or a simple voice memo-unit (like a digital answering machine, or a Yak-bak(tm) except smaller)
- Collapsable pool cue? *grins*
- A simple storage module... 35cm in length would be enough to roll up all sorts of papers and stick them in lengthwise -- and depending on the width of the staff/section, it could hold all sorts of things...
- another possibility is two different sized sections -- top and bottom would be thin, middle two would be thicker for better storage....
Can you say "Techno-mage?"
Until next time, be safe...
Modified: 2003 02/26 21:18
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