Power to the People!

 

 

"Why is electricity so expensive these days? Why does it cost so much for something I can make with a balloon and my hair?"

Dennis Miller

It is coming. Sooner rather than later. Every inventor since Nikola Tesla have dreamed about it. Science Fiction writers have addressed it. Electric companies are said to fear it. What is it? Inductive power. Putting it in the most simple of terms - wireless electric power.

So what is inductive power? Energy sent and received without the burden of wires. Yes, it exists today, albeit in a very rudimentary form (charging). Even though the inventor of the wireless energy transfer was Nikola Tesla, people have known for centuries that electricity is in the air. How? People have seen lightning in the skies and received shocks from static electricity. Not only is our world alive with power, astronomers now believe there is an unlimited source  of power that exists in the cosmos called "dark energy". It is more than possible that a hundred years from now, the way we currently use electricity will only be known in history books. 

People that think this concept is science fiction, better think again when they brush their teeth tonight. The Oral - B rechargeable toothbrush has used inductive charging for over a decade. And that little pink bunny is about to get a whole lot busier. The Energizer Company is now introducing an entire line of Qi Inductive Charging Stations.

So what is Qi? It is an interface standard developed in 2008 by a group of Asian, Euro and American companies called the Wireless Power Consortium. Currently, they are coming up with standards for inductive electrical power transfer over distances of up to 40 millimetres. This is just the beginning. Their aim is to create global standards for the evolving inductive charging technology.

According to the Wireless Power Consortium website, Qi technology is developing as follows:

With Qi you no longer have to carry separate chargers for each of your devices. Take your Qi-enabled devices with you, and simply find your closest charging station when you’re low on power – you’ll find them in offices, hotels, airports, railway stations and coffee shops. Qi charging stations are set to become as ubiquitous as Wi-Fi hotspots, and soon the Qi logo will become a major consideration for consumers looking to buy a new device. Qi takes its name from the traditional Chinese concept of intangible flow of power; the word literally means “vital energy”. The logo is a guarantee that your device can be wirelessly charged wherever you go. The logo is simple yet noticeable – you’ll find it on all kinds of portable devices and packaging.

This is just the beginning. It barely scratches the surface. This is another technology that could change the world. Right now it is all about charging. The next step will be much bolder - wireless power on demand. That step will take some work however, as the technology is far from mature. In fact, it currently resides more on the science fiction side of the street then science. It will take vision followed by hard work and resources. But it will come.

In the 1960's, the counter culture would say "Power to the people!" as a political statement. Thanks to Nikola Tesla and many of today's inductive power visionaries, this statement is about to take on a whole new meaning.