economical tubes

A recent article in The Economist highlights our continuing need to transport physical goods as well as digital information. A new version of an old idea on how to move things around efficiently? Pneumatic tubes of course.

Fascinating that pneumatic tubes are now catching The Economist's attention. No doubt this technology excites those interested in sustainable and cost-effective transportation of materials. It is a pity however that they had to refer to pneumatic systems as an “extinct technology”, neglecting the many uses of pneumatic tubes in organisations all over the world in the last two centuries.

My own image of pneumatic tubes still in use in a Melbourne hospital, Australia.