Trevor Baylis, the world famous inventor renowned for creating the clockwork radio, is set to announce his latest invention at a press conference this afternoon.

The product is the first produced by his new firm, Trevor Baylis Brands, which supports inventors and recently launched on the stock exchange with the aim of creating a "culture of invention" in the UK.

Aimed at the telephony market Baylis' latest invention builds on the success of his clockwork radio by introducing a telephone version which works on the same design principles.

Unlike Blondie, Mr Damian isn't hanging on the telephone

Put simply, and in non-scientific terms - the product comes with a small handle which you crank in order to generate energy for the product to run. The radio model has been a proven success in areas without electricity, or where an electrical supply is in poor supply. In Africa thousands are now able to listen to the radio without the expense of batteries or reliance on electricity.

However telecomms commentators are not so sure that the telephone version of this model will be as successful.

'Whilst the green credentials of this sustainable technology are not in doubt, we're not sure how practical it is for consumers' James Winalott from BT told us.

This sentiment was echoed by Justin Cox from the broadcast and telecomms regulator Ofcom, who expressed an additional concern that 'clockwork telephones might lead to an increase in wind up or crank phone calls'.

Mr Damian is probaby not alone in thinking that with this type of technology, that's something of a given.

Baylis - wind up merchant

Posted by damian at May 24, 2005 10:58 AM