“How much money could you make from a technology that replaces electrical wires? A startup called Powercast, along with the more than 100 companies that have inked agreements with it, is about to start finding out. Powercast and its first major partner, electronics giant Philips, are set to launch their first device powered by electricity broadcast through the air,” Melanie Haiken reports for Business 2.0.
“It may sound futuristic, but Powercast’s platform uses nothing more complex than a radio–and is cheap enough for just about any company to incorporate into a product. A transmitter plugs into the wall, and a dime-size receiver (the real innovation, costing about $5 to make) can be embedded into any low-voltage device. The receiver turns radio waves into DC electricity, recharging the device’s battery at a distance of up to 3 feet,” Haiken reports.
Haiken reports, “Picture your cell phone charging up the second you sit down at your desk, and you start to get a sense of the opportunity. How big can it get? ‘The sky’s the limit,’ says John Shearer, Powercast’s founder and CEO. He estimates shipping ‘many millions of units’ by the end of 2008.”
“Powercast says it has signed nondisclosure agreements to develop products with more than 100 companies, including major manufacturers of cell phones, MP3 players, automotive parts, temperature sensors, hearing aids, and medical implants,” Haiken reports.
“Could Powercast’s technology also work for larger devices? Perhaps, but not quite yet. Laptop computers, for example, use more than 10 times the wattage of Powercast transmissions,” Haiken reports. “But industry trends are on Shearer’s side: Thanks to less energy-hungry LCD screens and processors, PC power consumption is slowly diminishing. Within five years, Shearer says, laptops will be down to single-digit wattage–making his revenue potential even more electrifying.”
More in the full article here.
Um, this doesn’t sound too safe to me. Isn’t this called LIGHTNING?
Nicola Tesla is levitating in his grave.
There have to be some negatives about power going through the air.
Look at my ex-in-laws for example. They lived too close to the power lines and they are all R*T@RDS!
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”raspberry” style=”border:0;” />
Give me the Tesla Tank!
ZAP!
Wikipedia on Tesla’s wireless electricity project 100 years ago in Colorado:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wardenclyffe_Tower
Except it was in New York. Colorado came later. Mea Culpa.
I’ll soon be able to charge my phone and grow tumors… sweet!
The GM EV1 charged without direct contact (conduction) too. It’s all about induction.
Hmm, coolish…
…but bearing in mind how many Brits get the twitchies over nearby cellphone transmitter towers, there may be more than a few technical issues and social attitudes to resolve before this tech is accepted generally.
It’s unfortunate that the date on this article is what it is. However, turns out this news is not that “new”… http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12760_7-9673092-5.html
The ORIGINAL article, I should have said…
If you are broadcasting the electricity all the time even when the device is not in range wouldn’t that be quite wasteful?
Sounds great except that I will have to keep my iPod away from my front pocket when charging. I have not need for extra family jewels.
Did you notice the publication date on that story? April 1.
“If you are broadcasting the electricity all the time even when the device is not in range wouldn’t that be quite wasteful?”
I agree, and I’ve said that for years about radio stations. All those waves going to waste after I turn off the radio is horrible to contemplate. It’s even worse than wasting electrons on a computer monitor that lacks a screensaver.
The story from the link I provided was back in January 2007…appears that the effort is legit… not that that will make it any more feasible.
I think this is going to generate a lot of excitement when it comes out. I think there will literally be an electricity in the air.
<drum fill>
Oh, my gawd! This will cause global warming. Think about it, billions and billions of iPods charging and playing and everything. Look, I’m sweating now! Al Gore, make it stop, please, make it stop. <insert uncontrollable crying and moaning>
If you are broadcasting the electricity all the time even when the device is not in range wouldn’t that be quite wasteful?”
Yes but it would be quite simple to add a function in which the device talks to the receiver. So when the device needed power it would talk to the transmitter ” hey I need power” and the transmitter would start sending waves. Then when the device becomes charged it would signal ” hey enough power I’m good to go” and the transmitter would shut off.
My take
I swear I remember Apple actually has a patent relating to this and charging of a handheld device. Has a base station you just rest the device on and it begins charging from a much shorter distance. Similar but prolly not identical technology.
And for all you “omg, tumors” bs… gimme a break. Just because you’re not an electronic receiver doesn’t mean your body isn’t still being exposed to every single satellite signal, radio station, wireless tower and RF broadcast in your area. Try getting past Science 10 :p
You’re not beaming real electricity over the air, people. Don’t worry, it is as safe as your local radio station or the little add-on you have on your radios to hear your ipod wirelessly. The radio waves excite the device inside which creates the ellectricity. It is similar to how your badges work when you badge in at your job.
By 2020, we’re all going to glow in the dark.
Now if I could charge my cell phone/laptop/clock using the radio waves from the radio and TV waves already being beamed into my house, that would warrant a Microsoft “WOW!”
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
Back to reality – I would imagine this technology would waste a lot of energy. Very little energy that was broadcast would make it to the target. Not very green.
But Apple users will glow in the dark by 2010. We’re always ahead of the curve you know…
Unless the waves are directed at the device to be charged, it does indeed sound wasteful, as the energy will dissipate by the cube of the distance to the source. I would guess that the signal intensity would have to be greater than that of a standard radio signal if it is to actually charge a device. The fact that it is trendy, cool and convenient means that it will become widespread. There are many examples of these three factors overriding health or safety concerns; cars (convenient), botox (trendy), cell phones (trendy, cool and convenient), microwave ovens (convenient). It will become widespread despite any worries about safety and obvious waste issues. It will become efficient later.