Two researchers from University of Wisconsin-Madison have reversed electrowetting to eventually allows us to produce power from a source implanted in our shoe soles.
They used 150 droplets arranged in-between multiple layers of thin film, which generate electricity when pressed upon and moving around. So far this setup has netted only a few milliwatts of power, but a few thousand of those together could generate enough power to juice up our gadgets, including cell phones.
While there is still a lot of work to be done to refine the technology, the practical take is that those few thousand droplets that are needed to plug in your cell phone can fit in a small patch about six square inches.
The researchers have founded a company called InStep NanoPower, which aims to commercialize the technology by planting the small reverse electrowetting generators in shoe soles, which would produce energy while we are walking or running, making it an ideal solution for off-the-grid activities like hiking or combat.
Hope they also find a way for the USB cable plugged in your Nikes to look cool, or else we'll have to take the technology that charges the phone from the noise around you, or your constant yapping on it.
Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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