Good news for Sesimophobics and bad news for claustrophobics as this amazing new invention aims to confine a person in a steel coffin-shaped space complete with food and drink in case of an Earthquake to help survive the resulting destruction and debris. Many people don’t appreciate the kind of fear that Earthquakes present to people living in regions lying in the vicinity of tectonic plate movements. Although widespread destruction is still once in a blue moon kind of deal, the buildings and structures become ever more dangerous with successive Earthquakes and so much that no one can guarantee their safety if even a moderate earthquake strikes the area.
People have tried different construction techniques, Earthquake Early Warning Systems and damage mitigation designs to try and reduce the risk factor for our lives. When we are awake, we can probably run for shelter and rush ourselves out, but when we are asleep, we can’t take action fast enough and as we have seen may times in recent history, whole towns were annihilated from the face of the Earth when an earthquake struck while people were asleep. This Chinese innovator named Wang Wenxi has received a patent for a rather unorthodox, yet simple way of saving people while they are lying asleep. Here it is:
He aims to make an earthquake-proof bed that can deploy the instant it detects an Earthquake. What it does is let you fall into a hollow steel box and close it from the above so that you are essentially in an enclosed survival capsule, safe from all the destruction outside and may even survive a fall of multiple stories.
Also, in earthquakes, as many people die from starvation while trapped in the debris as the ones who perish in the initial destruction. So, the steel capsule is filled with water bottles, non-perishable snacks, and even medical supplies that might come in handy. So, a person can survive here for months waiting for rescuers to save him from the metal grave. It all seems pretty smart, but there are a lot of design challenges that need to be overcome before eventual realization. The fact that the top of the bed opens and engulfs humans inside is intriguing but also ergonomically difficult to achieve since we tend to have different sleeping poses and number of people on the bed. People who are claustrophobic will definitely have problems with this earthquake-proof measures since they can’t withstand cramped places let alone a metal container for months! But, modern technology can perhaps solve the problem for us by installing touchscreens on the inside to give a feeling of virtual spaciousness. This could help claustrophobics in their struggle to remain in there.
Asian countries like China and Central Asia are one of the most vulnerable parts of the world. Recently, there have been two 7.9 magnitude quakes this year alone. Although, they couldn’t do a lot of damage, the fear alone can cause stress and worry for people, especially while they are asleep and unwary. This product can go a long way in assuring people’s safety in case of an earthquake, but still needs a lot of work to do.