Study: Laptops Powered by Typing Could Be on the Way

[The Vegan Marxist]

Laptops Powered by Typing Could Be on the Way [STUDY]
by Charlie White
June 24, 2011

Australian researchers have figured out a way to harness the energy we use while typing to power a laptop. Using piezoelectricity, this method works in a similar way to cigarette lighters that create a spark by striking a piezoelectric crystal.

To power a laptop, though, a much thinner film of the piezoelectric material would have to be developed using nanotechnology. It’s so thin, it can be coated onto various electronic parts and integrated into a variety of gadgetry.

“The power of piezoelectrics could be integrated into running shoes to charge mobile phones, enable laptops to be powered through typing or even used to convert blood pressure into a power source for pacemakers — essentially creating an everlasting battery,” Dr. Madhu Bhaskaran, the study’s co-author, told GizMag.

The idea of an everlasting battery is mind-boggling. Scientists are also looking into ways to power touchscreen devices with piezoelectric film, putting all that energetic finger-swiping to good use.

Could this be a way around that perennial battery power conundrum?

http://mashable.com/2011/06/24/laptops-powered-by-typing/

[Hivemind]

Now THIS I can get behind! If this is as good as they make it out to be, near infinite battery life will make everything a lot better. My only concern is if the max charge will still continue to decrease as time goes by, which is currently the case with laptops and similar electronic devices, until that max charge is zero. There are two laptops in my house that won't turn on unless they are plugged into an outlet because the batteries are so dead.

[Princess Luna]

This sounds to good to be true, if the spark is generated by striking against the piezoelectric crystal than wouldn't the piezoelectric crystal wear away and/or break rather easy. People don't use cigarette lighters that offen, at least not in comparisan to how much they use their computer keys.

[Revy]

I don't know how many times I've had to replace AC adapters. those things stop working a lot...or the cord becomes loose and breaks...

I would very much appreciate this. It would mean you could take your laptop anywhere with an unlimited battery.

[Luisrah]

This isn't good for capitalism. I'm assuming it won't get much investment because if it is an infinite battery, you only have to buy it once, while the others you have to buy many times.

[Kenco Smooth]

This isn't good for capitalism. I'm assuming it won't get much investment because if it is an infinite battery, you only have to buy it once, while the others you have to buy many times.

Except all it would take is one company to release it to have a monopoly on what would be a high demand (and probably high priced) area of the market. The market isn't just a homogeneous capitalist cabal.

Not to mention that capitalists use laptops too...

[Sir Comradical]

So wait? The more you type, the more charged it gets? Holy shit! Can't wait till everything runs like this! In 20 years they'll be looking at our most efficient laptops thinking "so much energy wasted for so little processing power". Moore's law is some crazy shit.

[agnixie]

Except all it would take is one company to release it to have a monopoly on what would be a high demand (and probably high priced) area of the market. The market isn't just a homogeneous capitalist cabal.

Not to mention that capitalists use laptops too...

And of course, batteries and crystals wear out.