Charging Gadgets Without Wires

Contrary to common opinion, transmitting power wirelessly is not a new idea. At every science fair I went to as a boy (you shoulda seen my "Will a magnet attract it?" experiment!), some kid had an enormous Tesla coil on display, proudly lighting up fluorescent light bulbs by waving them around in the air.

What is new is the idea of bringing wireless power distribution to the masses, without the gigantic and scary machines that simply wouldn't look right in today's modern, stylish homes. So get ready for Powercast, which will soon start to commercialize a product that beams electricity to nearby devices. Sounds like snake oil, but Powercast has street cred: It signed a deal with Philips, and the device looks like it's coming to market by the end of the year. The first product: "A wirelessly powered LED light stick." Wireless computer peripherals which need no batteries are next.

Assuming it works (and all manner of experts say that it does), your next question might rightly be to wonder how safe such a thing is. Microwaves can be (and are) used in industrial applications to send power to faraway locations. But the Powercast technology uses low-power radio waves (not microwaves), has FCC approval, and extends to all of about three feet (though higher power versions could be created down the line). The trick isn't the power generator, it's the tiny receiver chip, which translates "static" into energy. The complete story (link below) has more information on how it all works.

Wireless keyboards are one thing, but cell phones, watches, remote controls, and even computers that never need new batteries or wires of any kind. Farewell to the power brick? Sign me up! (I'm also talking to Powercast to try to get a sample to try for myself. Stay tuned.)

LINK: Powercast's technology cuts the electric cord