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Perpetual PDA Power? Possibly.

Posted by michael on from the poetry-potpourri dept.

robb_c sent us this story about new high-efficiency power systems for portable devices - high-efficiency solar cells plus some sort of fuel cell system to store energy. Very nice, if it works, doesn't cost some ludicrous amount to manufacture, and doesn't explode when you drop it.

4 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. This is a wind-up by PhilHibbs · · Score: 4

    I want a clockwork PDA! You can already get clockwork radios and flashlights, why not a computer?

  2. More Bong hits, no doubt. by Glowing+Fish · · Score: 3
    (Gurgling)

    Dude, have you ever thought about how wasteful batteries are? Like, why don't we like, build a PDA that runs on Solar Power? Because, like, its natural dude!

    (Gurgling)

    You know what would be even cooler? If you could, like, have a button on the PDA that would order a pizza to your door any time, day or night!

    (Gurgling)

    Dude, munchies over FTP would be 31337!!! If only I could remember my password...

    Dude, you know what would be the coolest thing ever! If you could make a PDA into a BONG!!!

    Yeah, and we could run the whole thing off a nine volt battery!!!

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    Hopefully I didn't put any [] around my words.
  3. Wrist Watches? by SlashGeek · · Score: 3
    I believe some wristwatch have something possibly useful for PDA's. It didn't occur to me until just now, but there are wrist watches that charge as you walk. As far as I know they contain a pendulim attached to a small generator. As you walk and swing your arms, the watch charges a batter, or winds a spring, or charges a capacitor, or something. Now few of us wear PDA's on a location like a wrist, with high movement during normal walking. Movement in a shirt or jacket pocket would be limited. But how about a small wrist mounted deivce? Or ankle mounted? Ok, so mabey having wires running all over your body isn't the most practical idea, but it still could save some normally wasted energy.

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    --I assume full responsibility for my actions, except the ones that are someone else's fault.

  4. Issue ? by mirko · · Score: 3
    This comment is insightful though it deals with kinda extreme situations...
    Anyway, I'd like ot know how long the PDA accumulator could last as, for example, if I backlight my Palm III, this means:
    • I can't actually get the photons I'd need to powerup my device
    • It really becomes power-hungry
    So, are these perpetually loaded PDA only for normal guys working in temperate zone during the day or using a lamp ?
    Hmmm...
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    Trolling using another account since 2005.