Everything’s going wireless these days, and that’s a good thing – no one really likes the idea of all that spaghetti getting tangled behind our devices. Still, even the best “wireless” devices still need to be charged eventually, and that involves wires – for now. Sony’s latest prototype, which powered a 22-inch LCD with a source almost two feet away, may be the baby steps of eventual wireless electricity.
But wait – hasn’t all this been done before? Gadgets like the Palm Pre can charge with electromagnetic induction, after all. But then again, the results aren’t really all that impressive – nothing compares to the juice you get from plugging in. That’s what makes Sony’s prototype very, very interesting.
Sony calls the technology “magnetic resonance,” and while the mere thought of it is pretty cool, it still leaves a lot to be desired. Power transfer is only at 80% efficiency, and the extremely short range – 20 inches – can make anyone re-evaluate wired charging.
It’s still encouraging to see the evolution of technology, and it isn’t unlikely that this kind of technology will make mainstream in a number of years. Let’s just hope that when Sony comes up with the patent, they won’t sell it at the trademarked wildly exorbitant prices until competition comes along.
