Overview of Wireless Charging

Visualize a world where there is no longer a need to plug a wire into a device. Imagine having your car charge itself while driving to work everyday. Dream of being able to have your life-saving heart pump power itself automatically. All of these innovative ideas can be possible by the power of inductive charging. Although wireless power has been around for a few decades, it was not until recently that it began to gain ground in today’s world. Whether it is watching your favorite T.V. show, streaming music from a phone, or using Wi-Fi in your home, most electronic devices are optimized and utilize the advantages of wireless technologies.

As time quickly passes by, technology morphs into items we cannot live without. An honorable mention is the use of smartphones. Although they are called “smart”, one thing that most share is a lack of battery life. As of November 30, 2012, the top 20 smartphones with the longest lifespan has an average of 11 hours of battery life (Cell Phone). Although 11 hours seems to be enough to last a full day, it is not depending on what applications a user is utilizing and for how long. By using wireless charging, an individual no longer needs to plug wires into their gadgets anymore. All that is needed is a Qi (pronounced chee) compatible device and an inductive wireless charger (Gahran). Although the charger needs to be plugged into an outlet, a research group known as WiTricity, led by MIT Prof. Marin Soljacic, is working on a true wireless way of powering a device by using magnetic resonance. It is done by transmitting electricity through a batch of conductive coils. By the end of the decade, individuals will be able to charge their devices by walking into a room using WiTricity’s wirel...

... middle of paper ...

... Amy. "Will New Charging Standard Help Cut the Power Cords?" Newsgroup. CNN. Cable News Network, 09 Aug. 2010. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.

Kelion, Leo. "Formula E to Use Qualcomm Technologies in Electric Cars." Newsgroup. BBC News. BBC, 09 Sept. 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

Kelion, Leo. "South Korean Road Wirelessly Recharges OLEV Buses." Newsgroup. BBC News. BBC, 08 July 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

Konrad, Walecia. "Buying a Hearing Aid? You’ve Got a Lot to Learn." The New York Times. N.p., 24 July 2009. Web. 03 Jan. 2014.

MacKenzie, Angus. "2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Tesla Model S." Motor Trend Magazine. N.p., Jan. 2013. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.

Markowitz, Eric. "All of the Electric Power With None of the Wires BY Eric Markowitz." Inc.com. N.p., 18 Apr. 2013. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.

"Wireless Chargers Review." Wireless Chargers Review. N.p., 27 July 2012. Web. 03 Jan. 2014.