The End of Plugs and Power Cords

I was shocked when I read about this. I had no idea we were as close as we are. There are already systems coming to market which provide wireless power. Wireless electricity. What?! I know! Really? Yes! We're not going to be replacing all of our power outlets quite yet, but we are rapidly moving in that direction.

The technology has been around for a surprisingly long time. Tesla, back in 1893, illuminated vacuum tubes remotely without wires. In the '60's scientists we already working out feasible systems for transmitting power wirelessly over long distances using microwaves. Most of the scientific principles needed for wireless power have been understood for a long time. Finally technology and efficiencies are beginning to catch up.

Most of the technology coming to market now works on a principle known as induction. Here, the power transmitter's circuit generates an electromagnetic field which induces current to flow in the receiver, thus powering the device or charging a battery. Companies like eCoupled, Powermat, and WiPower are all actively marketing devices based on the technology. In them, the transmitter is a flat mat on which you can place small devices like cell phones and laptops and get a wireless transfer of power.

The downside here is a very short range. You have to sit your devices right on the mat or the process doesn't work. Plus, until device manufacturers start inserting the receiving technology into their products, you have to buy adapters. But these shortcomings are being dealt with. Using resonant induction, which tunes the electromagnetic field to very specific wavelengths, transmitting ranges can be greatly enhanced, allowing receiving items to be powered even a few feet away. At that point you don't need mats. You could embed the transmitters in your walls every few feet, just like and replacing power outlets, and then power almost everything in your house wirelessly. The power "outlet" will be in the same place it was before, but you won't see it, and you won't be restricted to just two or four "plug-in" points.

That, to me, is incredibly exciting.