In 1893 electricity pioneer Nikola Tesla successfully illuminated phosphorescent lamps, without the use of wires! Fast forward 119 years; today, the innovators at Intel and Nokia are currently picking up where Tesla left off, experimenting with the ability to charge laptops and smartphones wirelessly! Think of the possibilities!
Intel is currently wrapping up research and development, and plan to have an Ultrabook with wireless charging technology (WCT) ready in 2013. Keep an eye on the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show to for a first look.
Not to be outdone, Nokia and Microsoft recently unveiled two smartphones that both feature wireless charging capabilities. Nokia revealed a working model with their Lumia smartphone, the Lumia 920 has a 4.5 inch curved glass display, 8 megapixel camera, and utilizes Microsoft's Windows Phone 8. A release date has yet to be set, and Nokia is currently forming partnerships to build the wireless stations.
Charging the devices is dependent upon the charging stations. It is simply a matter of having the gadget close enough to pick up a signal, no more wires and USB cables required. One foreseeable convenience is portability. No longer will you have to lug wires and adapters with you on trips, and if charging stations become as common as wall outlets, the need to stop, plug in and charge, could one day be eliminated altogether.
Nokia and Intel is making wireless charging technology a reality. What was once stowed away in the forgotten-yet-curious archives of Nikola Tesla, will soon be available in the palm of your hand. And with the way technology quickly expands, if WCT catches on, it will likely fuse with countless other devices like lighting.
Take a moment with us and dream about what a world without wires will look like. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. Is this new tech a game changer or just a novelty? We will soon see.
