From Electricity to WiTricity June 09, 2007
Read more Gadgets , Laptops , Mobile phones , Science , Technology
I have more chargers and cables, old and new, than I care to count. Certainly enough to get me beaten to death by some eco-radicals. Now, a huddle of US boffins at MIT have successfully tested a wireless method of charging electrical items.
Called WiTricity, the experiment saw a 60W light bulb come to life thanks to some wireless power. A couple of copper coils were hooked up to a transmitter on the bulb and the power source, respectively, and when activated, power traveled 2m to the bulb and it glowed. It even managed to glow when obstacles like wood were placed in the path.
The downside is that the power efficiency needs to be higher for real-life uses but, according to the scientists, the test is very positive and we could all potentially be charging items like laptops and phones without those unsightly brick-plugs and cables.
Expect to be a few years older though before this is actually a reality.-Martin Lynch
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Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
Comments
Done (albeit on a smaller scale) in 2005.
http://bea.st/sight/levitation/
"according to the scientists, the test is very positive"
Ho ho!
Anything less than 100% efficiency doesn't exactly seem the green or cost effective way to power your gadgets.