Chips are becoming smaller and faster
Memory is becoming lighter & mightier
Screens are becoming photo frames and interactive surfaces
Keyboards and other ‘peripherals’ are disappearing
Projectors are shrinking in size and improving in resolution
Speakers are becoming smaller and sexier
Music players are becoming portable and yet Hi Fi
Content connectivity is going wire free – at least over short distances
But one thing that is common to almost all of them and has not demonstrated any visible signs of development in the past, almost, 50 years is power.
The last ‘remarkable’ development in the sphere of power sources, in order to fuel the ever hungrier gadgets, was solar panels in calculators and watches alike and rechargeable batteries that rid us from the worry of replacement every time.
After these two breakthroughs (and Lithium Ion to an extent), I have not witnessed any development in this area. The batteries are still large sized, heavy, unwieldy and most importantly just about average in catering to the ever evolving needs of present day devices.
Portable Power Devices have not been able to keep pace with the evolution of Portable Devices. These power sources still account for the bulk of the weight of most of the personal gadgets.
Even among desktop devices, power continues to represent the clumsiest part of set up – bulky power adaptors, long wires, lose connections and problems pertaining to over charging etc.
Perhaps players engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of power devices or components can benchmark themselves against connectivity. Just watch how multiple platforms (desktop, laptop, mobile phone, WiMax etc.) are all aligned towards trying to ensure reach to the end user.
Could we expect WireFree gadget recharging that is robust and mobile? Could we create gadgets precharged for a sizable duration of time, from the time they leave the factory?
Can we visualize a gadget world sans power cords? Whence we do not need to ‘tie down’ all our personal gadgets, to a wire every time we reach our office or home.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Can we get some innovation in here please?
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1 comment:
Interesting question...again its the end consumer who will come up with the solution to this power problem. Recently, I was reading an article on community phone usage in Uganda and I found out that poor villagers are using mobile phone as the community phone due to electricity problem.
You will have a question that how do they charge mobile charger ..yes they have found out the answer to that as well ..with the help of motor cycle battery despite the fact there are no motor cycles in the village. There is a community battery charging service dealer who charges small individual batteries for a price. Dealer gets his large battery recharged from nearby village every week and serves the villagers.
I think these power companies should also come up with collaborative models like "Android" ...the way Google, Motorla and other cos. have joined hands to make mobile phone simpler and stronger.
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