A Chinese schoolgirl has invented a pair of shoes that enable her to walk on water. Wang Wenting, from Chengdu, says she got her inspiration from watching ducks. The high school girl took nearly four years, experimenting with different materials, to come up with the design.
Not to belittle her ingenuity --- quite an accomplishment! --- but it's been done. All Jesus references aside, when I was a little kid enduring swimming classes at the local YMCA, I distinctly recall one of the instructors showing off by walking on the water of the swimming pool with these huge Styrofoam "shoes" shaped like small boats. He flipped over a few times, but he did manage to actually get halfway across the pool lengthwise at least once.
Of course, we tadpoles weren't allowed to try this out.
The instructor seemed to have a difficult time moving forward and staying upright. I never saw him use the "water shoes" again (just borrowed for the day? Too frustrating? Had to get back to his job?). It's possible that this young lady made enough improvements on the earlier design (even if she was unaware of the earlier design) that her water shoes are actually easier to use.
When I was a kid (in the 70's) there was a PBS show called "ZOOM". There was a detailed segment where someone fashioned a pair of these water shoes. As I recall there was some type of louvred assembly on the bottom that propelled the walker when striding. Anyone up for a round of Ubbi Dubbi?
As soon as I saw the photo I remembered the ZOOM episode from the 70's. I have some vague recollection of the "shoes" being made with styrofoam and venetian blinds.
http://www.museoscienza.org/english/leonardo/galleggiantipercamminare.asp
Of course, we tadpoles weren't allowed to try this out.
The instructor seemed to have a difficult time moving forward and staying upright. I never saw him use the "water shoes" again (just borrowed for the day? Too frustrating? Had to get back to his job?). It's possible that this young lady made enough improvements on the earlier design (even if she was unaware of the earlier design) that her water shoes are actually easier to use.
As soon as I saw the photo I remembered the ZOOM episode from the 70's. I have some vague recollection of the "shoes" being made with styrofoam and venetian blinds.
I still haven't gotten over my crush on Bernadette (http://www.bernadetteyao.com/index.asp?ID=29)