BOSTON (CBS) – There’s a good chance some type of new electronic gadget made its way under your tree Christmas morning. Now the challenge will be to keep those tablets and smartphones charged.
New technology is on the horizon which will recharge devices without a cord.
Publicist Erin Morrissey needs to talk, and text, a lot. She even has a special case to extend the battery life of the phone.
The idea of being able to charge her phone wirelessly someday is very appealing. “And you know, don’t have the stress of when will I get to the next outlet, before my phone loses charge?”
Right now, wireless charging requires direct contact with a charging pad. Technology expected on the market soon will allow the exchange of electricity through the air.
Michael Gorman of Engadget said, “Some companies have come up with technology that actually does allow you to beam power wirelessly from one place to another within a matter of inches at this point.”
Even a matter of inches could mean power supplies with the ability to charge multiple devices hidden in desks or other furniture.
That could even mean the end of cord clutter. “I could certainly see it in the next four to five years if the technology advances, to be kind of the defacto standard. Because I think nobody really wishes they had more cords to deal with,” added Gorman.
Some experts envision a day when this type of wireless technology is just automatically built into every day products.
John Perzow of the Wireless Power Consortium explained, “The idea is that if your phone is always charged, then you eliminate this thing we all share called ‘battery anxiety’. That’s the feeling you get as your phone battery starts to drop.”
Some companies are working on systems that would allow for power to travel longer distances, similar to Wi-Fi. The idea is that an entire room would be covered.
“There is potential there, but it is still in the very, very, very, early days,” said Gorman.
This technology is expected to take off quickly, up to $8.5 billion in 2018 from just $216 million last year.
It can’t happen soon enough for Erin. “I think that it will really help make my life a lot easier.”
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