Tech & Biz

Cut the Cord: Intel Demonstrates Wireless Power System

by Jordan Yerman | August 22, 2008 at 08:33 am

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Yesterday, Intel demonstrated the powering of an electric device via magnetic field (Wireless Energy Resonant Link), claiming a further step towards a wire-free environment for gadget- and appliance- users (which includes nearly everyone).

Intel chief technology officer Justin Rattner demonstrated a Wireless Energy Resonant Link as he spoke at the California firm's annual developers forum in San Francisco.

Electricity was sent wirelessly to a lamp on stage, lighting a 60 watt bulb that uses more power than a typical laptop computer.

Most importantly, the electricity was transmitted without zapping anything or anyone that got between the sending and receiving units.

"The trick with wireless power is not can you do it; it's can you do it safely and efficiently," Intel researcher Josh Smith said in an online video explaining the breakthrough.

This is not market-ready yet, and will require much more research to increase efficiency and safety- people will only buy into the technology if they're certain that they won't be roasting themselves, which is fair enough.

Previous wireless power systems consisted basically of firing lightning bolts from sending to receiving units.

Smith says Intel's wireless power system is still in an early stage of development and much research remains before it can be brought to market.

Rattner spoke of technological transformations he expects by the year 2050.

"You'd like to cut the last cord," Smith said.