3 On Your Side: Charge Your Smartphone, Without The Cord?
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Between smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearable tech and more, we love our gadgets on the go but when it comes time to recharge, most of us are still tethered to a power supply.
But as 3 On Your Side consumer reporter Jim Donovan finds in the near future you may be able to power up without the cord.
Publicist Erin Morrissey uses a special case to extend her smart phone's battery life, and plugs in when she needs to power up.
She hopes not to have to.
"And, you know not have that stress of, 'when will I get to this next outlet, you know, before my phone loses charge?,'" said Morrissey.
Right now wireless charging options require direct contact with a charging pad. But technology rolling out soon will allow the exchange of electricity over thin air.
"Some companies have come up with technology that actually does allow you to beam power wirelessly from one place to the other within a matter of, of inches at this point," said Michael Gorman with Engadget.
That could mean power supplies with the ability to charge multiple devices hidden in desks or furniture and, the end of cord clutter.
"I could certainly see it in the next four to five years if the technology progresses, it to be kind of the de facto standard. Because I think nobody really wishes they had more cords to deal with," said Gorman.
"The idea, is that if your phone is always charged then you eliminate this thing we all share called battery anxiety. That's the feeling you get as your phone battery starts to drop," said John Perzow with Wireless Power Consortium.
Some of the technology to charge over a short distance is expected to pop up in consumer products next year. And companies are working on using antennas, radio bands and ultrasound technology to beam power throughout a room like we do with wi-fi. One of the barriers for wireless power is that there isn't one universally accepted standard that can be built into all products.
