These days everyone is talking about alternative sources of energy. In the United States, President Barack Obama is touting the virtues of alternative energy technology, and the promise of green jobs, as well as reducing dependence on foreign oil and other environmentally harmful energy sources. The rest of the world is following suit, but the Japanese have really taken the lead in at least one area — kinetic energy generated by crowds of people walking through turnstiles at train stations. The new energy source uses piezoelectric foot mats installed beneath the ticket turnstiles to generate kinetic energy.

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