10-31-2002, 05:58 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Power Pad Offers Easy Recharge
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106482,tk,dn103002X,00.asp
I heard about this technology several weeks ago, and meant to post on it, but didn't - I'm glad PC World ran this article to remind me about it! The potential for this technology is quite incredible. Imagine recharging your devices by simply placing them on a small pad by your computer desk or night stands. No more wires, no more cables. I was led astray by the initial description of this technology I heard earlier - it's not "wireless" but "wire free". Quite a difference - this will require devices to not only have a chip inside to regulate the amount of power it needs, but it will also require metal contact points on the outside of the device. Still, this could revolutionize how we power devices, assuming the costs of these pads will be rapidly driven down to the point where adoption will occur rapidly. Give the article a read - it's very interesting.
"Amid the wireless buzz, a company claims to have solved the "last wire" dilemma by eliminating the need to plug in devices to charge them. Startup MobileWise is working with Acer and others to ship (early next year) a pad with a conductive surface capable of powering compatible computing devices that simply rest on top of it--as efficiently as if they were plugged into an electrical outlet."
"...An early design of the technology resembles a thick rubber place mat. Metal "connectivity points" span the pad's surface and deliver power to the charging contacts on a compatible notebook, cell phone, or other device that is laid on the surface. A single pad can power or recharge various compatible devices at once, accommodating as many as will fit on the pad, according to company representatives. Each unit will contain the intelligence to identify itself and its specs to the pad. The largest of the first pads is limited to 240 watts of output. Its potential uses are diverse, said Andy Goren, the company's chief executive officer, who demonstrated the technology. One obvious benefit is that a pad, which has a single power cord that plugs into the wall, could replace the multitude of power supplies required for individual devices that fit on its surface." Source: Jeff Curtin
|
| |
|
|
|
10-31-2002, 06:05 PM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 433
|
|
hey is the ipaq in the picture really charged by the device? :?:
|
| |
|
|
|
10-31-2002, 06:11 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 37
|
|
What am I missing?
Why is this a breakthrough? Your average cordless phone has a recharging mechanism that allows you to simply rest the phone on its base and recharge it through two external contacts. My electric toothbrush recharges in its base with no metal contacts at all.
With this pad, instead of carrying a small travel charger around with me, I'd be carrying something the size and shape of a heating pad? No thanks.
Universality is an entirely separate question. If the consumer electronics industry could agree on a single standard with a choice of amperages, we could all have one charger with an amperage switch on it, no matter the form factor.
JW
|
| |
|
|
|
10-31-2002, 06:16 PM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 390
|
|
neat! I definitely need more radiation source around the house. does it come with cancer testing kit?
and people are worry about living near highvoltage powerline.
|
| |
|
|
|
10-31-2002, 06:25 PM
|
|
Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 495
|
|
im confused...
you still ned to sync your device...
|
| |
|
|
|
10-31-2002, 06:34 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Re: What am I missing?
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by jweitzman
Why is this a breakthrough? Your average cordless phone has a recharging mechanism that allows you to simply rest the phone on its base and recharge it through two external contacts.
|
Right, but only that one phone will work in that one base - others will likely be physically incompatible. This is the same concept, but it would allow devices with a very minor physical modification to share the same charging point. Looking at the mess of power cables on my desk, I would certainly welcome this.
|
| |
|
|
|
10-31-2002, 06:35 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Re: im confused...
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Cortex
you still ned to sync your device...
|
One word: wireless. :wink: With a couple of these pads around the house integrated into tables and counters, you'd never need to bring the Pocket PC to your PC again.
Come on people, open your minds to the possibilities!
|
| |
|
|
|
10-31-2002, 06:45 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 69
|
|
Chalk it up....
Well, add yet another item to the Virtually Useless Inventions list. First off, as others posted, how the heck would you sync your device unless you had a wireless setup in your house? And as for "strategically" placing mats around the house, do you really think someone's going to want to have little power mats all over the house? And just how long do you think it'll take before the same clutter we plop down on various counters with any open space on them shows up covering these "strategically placed" mats? About 5 minutes after I get home from work, that's how long. Oh, and what about those "charging contacts"? Ever put a 9v battery in the same pocket you have some spare change? Having charging contacts THAT exposed will certainly invite unintended discharge at best and a possible health hazard at worst. My opinion? Novelty or niche item at best.
|
| |
|
|
|
10-31-2002, 07:06 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 93
|
|
Is wireless charging feasible? I know thoeratically it is, I'm just curious if anyone knows how much power you could transfer wirelessly at short ranges (2-3 feet). What frequency would you use and would it cause cancer? 
Yeah, I realize this one isn't wireless, just wondering.
|
| |
|
|
|
10-31-2002, 07:57 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 212
|
|
Well, I would welcome this. This would eliminate about three miles of wires, a dozen huge block adapters and base stations, and giant power strips in my home. Having one pad on my nightstand with ONE wire, and being able to simply lay down all of my gadgets and have them all recharge at once without plugging anything in would be fantastic. It would make for a nicer, cleaner, more minimalist environment, conserve space and eliminate miles of spaghetti by eliminating all of the crap I mentioned above. All a person might need is one on the nightstand and one by the desk. They wouldn't need them all over the house.
As far as exposed contacts on devices are concerned, if this would present a problem, it could be addressed simply by having a small cover that would slide open to reveal, or slide closed to protect, the contacts. So that's not a big issue.
Although, I would have to say that AC adapters would still be necessary to have as an option, because sometimes, and perhaps only in the case of a laptop, you need an adapter because #!, battery life stinks in most laptops, #2, you may have to work longer than what your batteries will last, and #3, maybe you can carry a spare laptop battery, but you need not only instant, but continual power that only an adapter can provide and you don't have time to wait for a battery to recharge. So of course this pad would be pointless in those situations. But only under those circumstances would you need an adapter. For small devices, you never would. One day, when super long lasting methanol fuel cells arrive for laptops and everything else, along with this pad, adapters wouldn't be needed at all.
I also have to add that I wouldn't use this pad for data transfer. To me, that makes no sense. Bluetooth is a much better solution for data transfer than a pad. But for recharging batteries, I'm all for it.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
