By Jennifer Hooker, IEN Staff
August 27, 2008—While we couldn’t live without our devices that keep us connected, cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, etc., there are the times that the battery light starts flashing and we don’t have the charger handy. It is at these times when we feel like throwing our beloved gadgets across the room. Though there have been advancements on trimming down the wires (USB charging, charging stations), there still isn’t a technology that eliminates them. This may soon change as Intel recently took a stab at making wireless recharging a reality.
The chip manufacturer demonstrated a technology at the Intel development forum called Wireless Resonant Energy Link (WREL), which builds on research that MIT physicists have been conducting. According to the Associated Press, Intel powered a 60-watt light bulb from an energy source three feet away. Intel’s CTO, Justin Rattner, also noted that it was done at 75% efficiency.
WREL (also known as “WiTricity” at MIT, a combination of wireless and electricity) uses a pair of electronic coils that resonate at the same frequency to transmit energy at a distance. However, this technology isn’t set to hit the streets any time soon. According to the AP, both Intel and MIT used charging comes that were way too big for public use.
Nevertheless, Rattner said that Intel is still trying to modify a laptop to run on WREL, but are running into challenges with preventing the electromagnetic field from affecting the rest of the computers components. The hope is that eventually, people can mount a large transmitter to the wall, or even put it inside a wall and place little receivers around the house to establish the wireless electricity.
While neither Intel nor MIT have mentioned any adverse side effects, to WiTricity, we couldn’t help but wonder what this technology would do to people with pacemakers. Let’s hope they work out any kinks before it enters the market, otherwise exploding iPod batteries won’t be the only thing we have to worry about!