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Aug 08Coming in 2011: Tesla coils, mammoth tanks.
The New York Times reports that Intel is about to unveil wireless power transmission, in an attempt to clear the power-cable forests that keep our gadget-heavy lives running. Intel claims to be able to transmit 60 watts of power to a 3 ft. radius, losing “only” 25% in transmission.
This could be terrible.
The idea is awesome–charge your laptop on any desk, power your blender on your counter, charge your cell phone on your coffee table. But let’s say they refine the technology and get the power drain down to about 10%. People would cut their power cords up with a meat cleaver and buy a PowerCast countertop, desk and bedside table in a heartbeat. Broadcasting power through the air is always* going to be less efficient than a wire, which increase global energy consumption, as well tacking extra on to your electric bill. I don’t really mind walking upstairs to plug in my cell phone.
*Discounting a deus ex machina breakthrough.
Tagged: nerdiness, reading, technology
August 24th, 2008 at 7:07 am
zomg! tesla coils laptop defense. yes. i will turtle my roommate out of the house.