WiTricity will change the Tech Market

Article I wrote for my bi-weekly column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper):

View Article @ Warrington Times:
- WiTricity will change the Tech Market

By Nick Carson - Published Issue 1, 14^th Sept’09

You’ve probably never heard of it, but there is a new technology that is emerging which could change the dynamics of the technology market in a huge way. It’s called WiTricity, and the concept is simple: Wireless Electricity.WiTricity is a technology developed by a MIT team led by Professor Marin Soljačić and it solves problems we all deal with everyday. We all carry laptops, cell phones and iPods around with us, and we all struggle with the problem of powering these devices.

Imagine now if all these devices could be powered without ever plugging them into an outlet. The technology uses electromagnetic resonance to transfer electricity wirelessly and safely over a distance of several meters. So the next time you come home and set your bag on the counter or sit in class at your desk, WiTricity could be automatically powering or charging your mobile devices. No more plugging in power adapters and messing around with all those cords.

The applications are limitless, everything from mobile electronics to wall mounted TV’s, medical devices, electric cars and more. The benefits are obvious of wireless power to the consumer, making our lives easier and removing some of our everyday headaches. The technology is real and was recently demonstrated in July at the TED Global conference by Eric Giler, CEO of WiTricity.

TED WiTricity Video – Eric Giler

What does this all mean for the technology market and businesses? After WiTricity emerges, we could see a surge in its adoption across many markets. Companies could find themselves incorporating the technology directly into their products to allow consumers the ability to charge or power their devices wirelessly. In addition, they could be utilizing it to reduce costs and increase efficiency within their business. Dell, Apple, HP, Toshiba are all major corporations we could see in the coming years implementing wireless electricity into their mobile devices and laptops. Future versions of the iPhone will no longer ever need to be plugged into an outlet. Netbooks and laptops could throw away those ugly power adapters.

A wave of new products with wireless electricity would force companies to revamp their strategies. Consider the impact it will have on the battery market. Duracell (parent company Proctor and Gamble) and companies alike will need to innovate quickly if they want to stay in business.

With a widespread adoption of WiTricity, two things could happen: First, many products will do away with batteries all together such as remote controls, mice, keyboards- basically anything that stays in your house all the time. Second, mobile products like laptops and cell phones would integrate the technology, with most companies opting to have rechargeable batteries tied directly to the WiTricity component. If major battery companies fail tonotice the impact it could have, they might suffer the same fate as Kodak did when digital cameras first came on the scene.

WiTricity is just one of the many new technological innovations set to make a splash in the tech world in the coming years, possibly eliminating the need for batteries all together.

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