Taiwanese student invents solar-powered lifesaver

Taipei - A Taiwan student on Tuesday unveiled a lifesaver which can greatly increase a person's chance of survival after falling into the sea.

The product, called LIFEON, looks like an ordinary plastic life preserver but is a high-tech device, inventor Sheng-cheh said.

"It has a chlorophyll solar cell which is automatically charged within 10 seconds after coming in contact with water, and can heat up the lifesaver to human body temperature for 72 hours," he said at a National Taiwan University of Science and Technology exhibition.

Apart from keeping the person warm, the preserver has compartments that hold water and food, he noted.

It is also equipped with a GPS global-positioning system to help rescuers locate it in the sea.

Feng's invention won Germany's 2010 International Forum Design Award last week. He said his university is looking for a company to mass-produce it.