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PowerBeam Demos Wireless Electricity At CES

Posted by timothy on from the where-to-throw-wet-towels-now? dept.

JadedApprentice writes "Caught a mention of this startup yesterday on CNBC while they were reviewing the latest gadgets at CES. In the off chance that there was anything remotely feasible or safe about the wireless power prototypes PowerBeam had on display, I took a quick google and found this nice little write-up on the technology (along with some priceless comments for those that scroll down, and I'm not talking about those on the page below). Bottom line: while it's possibly safe, it may not be efficient and it sure as hell won't power your 1200W gaming rig, the guys at PowerBeam are hoping the convenience of wireless power delivered through directed IR lasers will not only give you the coolest living room in town, but make them very rich in the process" This may be the only one using lasers, but there's a fair gaggle of wireless power schemes on the floor at CES. Besides several chargers limited to charging the controllers of specific game consoles, I walked through a working high-concept demo put on by PowerMat (also mentioned in that PC Magazine article), which relies on dedicated per-device sleeves and dongles to power cameras, phones, and other necessary pocket-fillers; the sleeve-equipped devices then sit to charge on one of the PowerMat induction mats. That means that if your gizmo isn't one for which a sleeve or dongle is available, you're out of luck, unless it uses AA or AAA batteries (there's a charger made to fit on the mat) or can be powered by USB (for which the company has hockey-puck sized USB-power sources, which, Yes, sit on the induction mat). Impressive, but at $30 a pop, that would mean a fair outlay to convert many gadgets to use such a system.

6 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Wireless Plumbing by Enderandrew · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wake me when I can just plug-and-play a toilet anywhere.

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  2. Coolest, eh? by windsurfer619 · · Score: 5, Funny

    wireless power delivered through directed IR lasers will ... give you the coolest living room in town

    And the only one on fire, making it the hottest too!

  3. Already cracked by Skapare · · Score: 3, Funny

    And it's security has already been cracked. People are ready to get free energy.

    --
    now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
  4. Re:Hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Free laser eye correction, all in a day's work

  5. What Stinks??? by tunapez · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh, excuse me.

    I was loitering in the electron beam.

    --
    Imagination drew in bold strokes, instantly serving hopes and fears, while knowledge advanced by slow increments...
  6. Re:dream on by scottrocket · · Score: 2, Funny
    The whole notion of usable wireless electricity smells to me of perpetual motion.

    Especially if the 100 watt beam gets up your nose: You'll be in motion for at least a little while.