Powering Wearable Electronic Devices

Within this decade there have been numerous innovations with technology and electronics. One of these innovations is computers or electronics that are made to be worn on the human body. Yet, there have been difficulties in powering these devices and still keeping them light and flexible.  Researchers from KAIST, headed by Byung Jin Cho,  are developing a thermoelectric (TE) generator from glass fabric that will be able to generate electricity from the heat given off from the human body. There are currently TE generators out on the market but they are either low-powered or too bulky and heavy to be anything more than a nuisance to carry around. Cho and his team are developing a TE generator that will be designed to be light and flexible in order to create the most efficient mobile electronic and produce the maximum power output while keeping the loss of thermal energy at a minimum.  The glass fabric of the generator is held together by a mixture of pastes made from inorganic material that was designed by Cho and his team of researchers.  Cho believes that this technology will create a new generation of generators that could be installed in more up-scale devices.  For more information on the new and improved TE generator read this article posted in ScienceDaily.

Image from ScienceDaily

Biometric Alternatives for Passwords

Keeping track of all the passwords for numerous websites can be a hassle and even impossible at times. So why not find a more convenient and efficient way to keep an individual’s information private and secure?  In an article,covered by CNN, it is discussed that instead of using passwords to access an individual’s account the use of  specific traits and behaviors that make every person unique is the next step. The mainstreaming for this technology is still years away because of privacy concerns and getting it to work in the current systems. Yet, a few traits and behaviors are still serious candidates for identification.

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Each heartbeat has a distinctive ECG, electrocardiographic signal, and the technology that is able to read that signal has already been developed. What is in the stages of production is the Nymi wristband, pictured above, that will allow access to the multiple devices by detected the individuals heartbeat and confirming their identity.  Another identifiable behavior is an individual’s gait and  researchers have been working on technology that will recognize that gait and identify who the individual is.  With the right software, they believe that someone’s phone, for instance, will be able to identify the owner just by sensing their walk.  For more alternative biometric entries read this article.

Wireless Electricity

Imagine a life where there are no cords or wires pathing a way from the outlet to your electronics. A life where you do not have to worry about being out of luck because you forgot to charge your phone or computer. Dr. Katie Hall, Chief Technology Officer at WiTricity, is developing a technology that will allow an electronic device to receive the electricity it needs in order to charge or run without any cords or wires.

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WiTricity is a coil that will emulate the purpose of a power cord.  When a power source is connected to the WiTricity coil it will act as a resonator and induce a magnetic field throughout a certain distance of space. When in range of the magnetic field, the coil in the battery of  the electronic will generate a current that will transfer power from the WiTricity to the device allowing it to charge or run.  WiTricity has already been tried and proven successful in giving power to cell phones, laptops, and TVs.   In the article, Dr. Hall’s describes her goals for the future of WiTricity that not only include everyday household objects but also anything from electronic cars to medical equipment.  If WiTricity is developed with an increased range of the magnetic current and can be as universal as a WiFi router then the generations to come will never know the chore of using cords or wires to power their electronic devices.