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UBEAM AIMS TO MAKE WIRELESS CHARGING AS UNIVERSAL AS WIFI

Wireless Charging Start-Up Unveils Fully Functional Prototype

Short battery life is one of the most common complaints of smartphone and laptop users on the move. Arguably, the second biggest is the difficulty in finding a place to charge their appliance. Well uBeam, the brain-child of Meredith Perry may provide the answer to these most ubiquitous of problems. Ms. Perry came up with a new type of wireless charging system while attending the University of Pennsylvania as a student of astrobiology.

Tech firm uBeam was created by Ms. Perry to refine and market her idea. The company made an announcement in early August, that it had developed a fully functional prototype which it will sell to both business and home customers. The technology works by converting electricity via wall mounted transmitters into audio waves which are beamed around a room or workspace. These ultrasound waves are in turn collected and converted back into electricity through thin receivers attached to a phone or other device. The wall-mounted charging stations will measure not much more than 5 millimeters thick and will be pretty discreet.

A downside of the technology is that the waves cannot pass through walls, so each room will need a transmitter. However, Ms. Perry appears confident that the company can provoke enough interest with hotel and restaurant chains for the concept to be readily adopted. No doubt the idea that a customer could charge their device while walking through a lobby or sitting at a booth is very attractive. We could soon see uBeam signs right next to the free wifi symbols that are already so common.

Details

  • Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
  • University of Pennsylvania

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