6 minute read
Technology is now an irreplaceable element of daily life that needs a constant stream of energy. Having uncharged or low batteries increases stress and anxiety levels. While companies like Sony introduce new lithium-sulfur batteries with greater capacity, Disney develops charging spaces. Nevertheless, gadgets’ energy is only a half of the problem. Modern lifestyles require higher stress resistance and energy levels. How do new innovations stay people up-to-charge?
Taking wireless
to a new level
A long time ago, Nicola Tesla highly discussed the concept of distributing electricity without cables, but, back in time, it was not possible. Today, the world returns back to this idea. Grid decentralization and personal energy sources are now become prioritized. WiTricity is working in collaboration with Dell to create a new laptop Latitude 7285. It is basically a self-chargeable device, as the pad under the gadget creates a magnetic field that keeps it constantly charging. Witricity’s Chief Technology Officer, Morris Kesler, believes that it is just a start. He sees the utopian scenery of wireless grids as our upcoming future.
Disney Research integrally supports his concerns and even a step ahead. Recently, the company started working on the development of a[nbsp]so-called “wireless-charging room” where several objects can be charged at the same time without cords. The room is capable of producing 1,900 watts of energy. This energy production becomes possible due to the usage of aluminum in floor and ceiling and copper pipe in the middle of the room. This example helps see that Disney is not only creating a magical universe on the movie scene but also keeps up with the current tendencies and develops bright, colorful, and stress-and-cable free future for gadget users. Does it mean that the company is preparing a new future for entertainment?
Low battery anxiety
Charging the gadgets is the most common issue in the modern society, which is causing an actual psychological problem, so-called, “low battery anxiety”. Individuals with these conditions experience severe anxiety when their battery is only 20% full. Meanwhile, 33% skip their gym class while others 22% order food or beverage in a restaurant just to charge the phone. In this case, provoking mental problems and anxiety underlines a paramount importance of considering and developing innovative concepts of battery charging. The automated and digital world requires taking advantage or at least adapting to it, so it is time to move forward.
The demand for lithium is expected to double by 2025 since this element is actively utilized in different spheres starting from medicine and ending up with home-based energy storage. Sony spotted this issue and is currently working on the development of lithium-sulfur and magnesium-sulfur batteries that can prolong phone’s regular usage by 40%. The modern research believes that lithium batteries are non-sustainable solutions. Moreover, the production of the batteries containing cobalt and lithium is also questionable due to ethical reasons such as child labor, safety, difficulties with controlling quality, and subsequent problems with recycling. Clearly, these solutions tend to be a remnant of the past when demands and technologic developed were not as high and advanced. Making change will not only address “digital” mental problems but also will assist in saving ecology and avoiding complete deforestation.
Sustainable charging
The researchers and scientists consider these trends as a priority and conduct continuous research to discover novel possibilities of charging in sustainable and wireless ways. Bioo Lite solution views charging from a slightly different perspective and promotes eco-friendliness.[nbsp]Their approach implies that a gadget is charged by photosynthesis and other organic reactions in a plant. While its capacity is still rather low at 3.5W, Bioo Lite has a clear reference to eco-problems and promotes human’s unity with nature.
Another example of sustainable solutions is extracting of kinetic energy developed by experts from the University of Surrey. With the help of Triboelectric Nanogenerators tengs[nbsp]physical movement[nbsp]is converted into electricity. Some other interesting solutions include Sound Charging where the electricity is extracted from ambient sound. Meanwhile, the Jenax J.Flex battery, another innovation, is so thin and foldable, so it can be easily integrated with clothes or other wearable devices. It is clear that these interesting and rather futuristic examples bring batteries to the entirely new level and help people have access to energy sources as fast as possible.
Internal ecosystem
and resources
Today, fatigue now has leading positions among working population. According to National Safety Council survey, 43% of employees do not have enough of sleep, 21% work extra, and 22% exceeds 50 hours per week. High level of fatigue has a drastic impact on productivity and overall well-being and happiness. A combination of these facts implies that significant percentage of the population is not able to cope with current demanding lifestyle pace. So, apart from simply having spare external batteries or recharging a phone, as a result, there is a need for external sources of energy that people are looking for. Today, there are various approaches to take care and recharge your mental batteries.
Mental detox is one of them and it is a psychological program that is designed to get rid of negative behavioral patterns and attitudes. The era of gadgets and constant dependence on them triggered the development of the gadget-free movement. It implies spending quality time with people while the usage of digital devices is entirely prohibited. According to the mental detox program, the major advantages of this intervention pertain to increased levels of efficiency, productivity, focus, and improved sleeping patterns.
Unfortunately, “unplugging” for a day or two is a rare opportunity. Geoff Woo, the CEO of HVMN, decided to explore different organic chemical chains and developed drinks powered by ketone ester. Its idea is linked to the concepts of a ketogenic diet, as ketone molecules are released when the organism uses fat stores. This beverage helps skip[nbsp]this stage and gives human “superpowers”. Its unlikeness with caffeine “sort of makes the life easy. Rather than making you feel as though your heart is racing or you’re exhausted … You have this energy – energy you just don’t normally have.”, claims Kieran Clarke, a professor of physiological biochemistry at Oxford. This invention does not have a direct linkage with decreasing levels of anxiety, but this step helps discover not only the development in the sphere of technology but also see that our movements might be a key to continuous recharging in the recent future when wearing Smart Clothing.
