October 10, 2004
New Batteries Transforming Mobile Computing
Mobile computing will be transformed by high-power batteries that can be charged in less than 10 minutes and by fiber batteries built into clothing, according to a September article in TechWeb, which somehow I missed.
"Among the technologies being developed, according to Dubois, vice president of the physical sciences division at research and development company SRI International.
-- High-powered batteries that run for four hours after a 10-minute re-charge.
-- Printed batteries that use modified inkjet printer or a standard printing press. The anode and cathode are special kinds of ink, laid down in layers the same way as is now done for color printing. The printed batteries will likely be used in both rechargeable and disposable devices.
-- A fiber battery, made with thin carbon fibers coated with fiber materials. The battery could become the case of a PDA or cell phone, or woven into clothes.
-- Fuel cells will be able to run four or five hours, and be recharged by re-filling the fuel or replacing a fuel cartridge in seconds.
Initial fuel-cell powered products will likely hit store shelves next year, with widespread adoption in 2008. Ten percent of laptop computers will likely be powered by fuel cells by 2010. Companies will mass-market fuel cartridges for cells.
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