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Microsoft Researchers Use Light Beams To Charge Smartphones

Posted by samzenpus on from the power-up dept.

angry tapir writes A group of Microsoft researchers has built a prototype charger for smartphones that can scan a room until it locates a mobile device compatible with the system and then charge the handset using a light beam. The researchers say they can achieve efficiency comparable to conventional wired phone chargers. The biggest barrier? Smartphones don't (yet) come with solar panels attached.

3 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. It would be much more interesting... by ctrl-alt-canc · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...to zap smartphones with a beam of light whenever they are not properly silenced.

    1. Re:It would be much more interesting... by OzPeter · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...to zap smartphones with a beam of light whenever they are not properly silenced.

      Screw zapping the phone, the phone doesn't know any better. Zap the user instead.

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  2. What they need by Chrisq · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is "a laser capable of emitting a beam of pure anti-matter".