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Ask HN: What happens to the "drinking water" devices that pop up daily on HN

2 points by sourcegrift ↗ HN
It seems that (to exaggerate a bit) everyday there's a revolutionary invention of a cheap portable device that uses very little energy and generates enough drinking water for a family. What actually happens to those devices? Surely there's money to be made there? How do I not see a production version.

I guess my bigger question is, what are the logistics and economics of bringing unprofitable inventions that target poor people.

4 comments

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ianai
In the west such devices would largely be a niche in the outdoors recreation industry. Plus you generally have to go out of your way to be informed about Africa enough to know what’s really happening locally. (Not a dig on Africa, and western media could stand to be more…”inclusive.”)

So until proven otherwise, it’s possible many technologies have traction in water treatment in Africa and we just dont know.

Really though Africans are a widely disparate group. It’s worth approaching with humility.

k310
Many here are engineers and scientists interested in smart ideas and devices. We Woz types seek a Jobs type to fret about economics.

Sometimes an unprofitable idea suddenly becomes profitable due to changing technology, circumstances and people.

The ideas are still cool.

And sometimes, we collectively give away devices to purify water, save lives, or keep away mosquitoes -- out of compassion. It's not dead yet.