Physicists Promise Wireless Power

StrongGlad writes "The tangle of cables and plugs needed to recharge today's electronic gadgets could soon be a thing of the past. Researchers at MIT have outlined a relatively simple system that could deliver power wirelessly to devices such as laptop computers or MP3 players. In a nutshell, their solution entails installing special 'non-radiative' antennae with identical resonant frequencies on both the power transmitter and the receiving device. Any energy not diverted into a gadget or appliance is simply reabsorbed. The system currently under development is designed to operate at distances of 3 to 5 meters, but the researchers claim that it could be adapted to factory-scale applications, or miniaturized for use in the 'microscopic world.'"

Now who's stupid

[joss]

I bet I'm not the only one here who has taken the piss out of someone for asking if they can get a wireless power supply for their laptop

Re:Loss

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't see

that's why you're not a genius.

Great

[Frankie_CWRU]

now the people driving around in vans stealing my wireless don't even have to stop to recharge their laptops.

Re:laptops and MP3 players?

[dscx]

All that hardware, and a rats nest too? You sure keep a busy office...

Re:laptops and MP3 players?

[jimstapleton]

lol.

Rats are awsome critters, very friendly and social. I finally got them to stop gnawing on my feet. I even still have three toes left!

Re:Loss

[Dunbal]

It would also suck to have a random bdy part resonate in a similar frequency ...

      I dunno, I guess it all depends on exactly WHICH body part we're talking about... this might revolutionize the online pr0n industry :)

while you guys are at it...

[circletimessquare]

tesla promised not only wireless power, but also death ray. could you make sure you deliver that to?

thanks!

signed,

technology historians for the realization of past promises

ps: don't think we've forgotten about those rocket cars mr. popular science!

Dateline 2006

[lordmoose]

This amazing new "wire-less" technology is the all the rage to-day.

I, For One...

[eno2001]

...welcome our new tumor causing overlords!

Re:Now who's stupid

[ThomsonsPier]

Surely that would be a battery?

Re:That would be really cool to see...

[Intron]

Fortunately there are no health issues with Lithium-ion batteries. I sleep with my laptop.

Re: Tesla

[RareButSeriousSideEf]

Didn't he do that "Little Suzie" song?

Hmmm

[Bombula]

The article mentions resonant frequencies, and I'm suddenly reminded of a certain visor-wearing Starfleet officer always blaming the phase-inducers for some damn thing to do with resonant frequencies...

Re:Problems

[_argonauta]

that was interesting

what was it about?

Re:That would be really cool to see...

[j00r0m4nc3r]

People/other objects not affected as not resonating at 6.4Mhz

Speak for yourself, meatbag!

Now, I can power my flying car!

[Peter Simpson]

Finally, a solution to Boston traffic!

Re:alexchiu

[sumday]

Whoever modded this insightful obviously wears magnetic immortality rings [alexchiu.com].

Re:Maybe it's the heating

[tgd]

Thats why I try not to move around too much, go out in the sun, or wear pants.

Any one of those could heat up my cells a little bit and give me cancer!

Re:You have a point.

[(Robo_Bro)]

People/other objects not affected as not resonating at 6.4Mhz

Headline: Shakira develops cancer of the hips.

But..... We already have wireless power....

[melstav]

You can buy "Wireless extension cords" [thinkgeek.com] from ThinkGeek.com

And no, I haven't RTFA.

Re:100 years later...

[Rhinobird]

My what a good excuse for us geeks to go and get a beer!
Telsa is vindicated! Pass me a beer!
It's Wednesday! Pass me another beer!

Re:Microscopic gods....

[Valdrax]

As others have mentioned the author and title of the story you're looking for, I'd just like to chip in that, in a similar vein, "Blood Music" by Greg Bear is also quite good. It's about a guy who invents intelligent white blood cells and injects himself with them.