Flexible, Plastic Sheets of Power

bethr writes "Imagine never having to plug in an electronic device to get power? Researchers at the University of Tokyo have demonstrated prototype plastic sheets with copper coils that wirelessly supply power to any device that touches its surface. You just put down your laptop and the pad sends it power: 'An array of organic transistors that detect the position of the gadget and direct current flow.' Apparently, the researchers had enough time to create a spiffy video of their doll house model, complete with a mini Christmas tree, showing off the technology."

Comments

Wow!

[LiquidCoooled]

They have reinvented the transformer, except this time there is an open end on it.

They had better paint it bright red and put warning signs over it, or it will start melting anything placed upon it.

(I assume I am not the only one to throw my keys and change and the rest of my pocket crap out when I get home)

Re:Wow!

[EvanED]

From TFA:

The power sheet, says Takao Someya, professor of engineering at the University of Tokyo, relies on the well-known physical principle of electromagnetic induction, used to charge electric toothbrushes and some RFID tags. (Emphasis mine)

So the device more or less tells the pad that it wants power.

Re:Wow!

[Psion]

WAIT! Toothbrushes have RFID tags?! No wonder my dentist always knows I haven't been brushing my teeth!

Re:Wow!

[Psion]

No, no, no. This was an effort at self-deprecating humor by juxtaposing the conclusion that the dentist knows I haven't brushed my teeth through the use of Orwellian technology with the very simple and obvious realization that had I not been brushing my teeth, the dentist should be able to deduce this from a simple observation. The joke relies on inverted parsimony to jab at the intellect of the author.

Jokes just go so flat when one must explain them. Just ... laugh politely next time and pretend you got it.

Re:Cost?

[rrohbeck]

Why should I want to replace an already mature, tested, cheap, reliable technology with something that costs a whole lot more, and may direct power to where it is not wanted? Because it's cool? Inefficient? Expensive? Conspicuous consumption and all that.

I can see the warning labels

[edwardpickman]

Remember the scene in A Christmas Story where the kid licks a metal pole? I keep getting this picture of a kid licking the power strip and the electronics deciding his tongue was an electronic device badly in need of a 120 volts. I can hear the chanting now, "you'll blow your eye out, you'll blow your eye out."

Re:Practical Applications

[NiceRoundNumber]

1) Wireless mouse pad

Q: "Sure, but where does the mousepad gets its electricity?"

A: "It's mousepads all the way down."

Must give off a good chestwarming EMF as well

[viking80]

You can easily try this at home yourself. Just disable the safety switch on your microwave, and run it with the door open.

You can induce up to a kW in things like forks and aluminium foil.

It even warms up my hands and head on the inside while I hold my devices near the oven.