While most of us were in Vegas coving the CES floor of events the guys over at DVICE were away from the strip checking out the New American Home. This new age home was built with help from a few select tech companies, the most notable being Microsoft.
As well as LG’s new plasma and LCD TV ranges, SlashGear had the chance to spend some hands-on time with the LG HFB-500 solar-powered Bluetooth car-kit speakerphone at CES 2009 this morning. The compact device can be recharged either by a standard AC connection – with an in-car adapter provided – or by leaving it on the dashboard to soak up the sun.
While solar powered home appliances are still far from reach for many of us, Scientists have been step ahead, cracking codes to improve solar cell’s power efficient and its environmental concern. Current solar-powered home appliances require extra step of energy conversion to generate supply power, about 20% of the energy is wasted during the process despite having a 90% conversion rate. A Japanese research group has figured out an alternate way to spare the extra step.
It seems today you can get just about anything in a solar powered version. Items you would not normally think of as a device that is capable of running on solar power such as headphones, 52-inch HDTV and persona media players (PMP). This next gadget takes going green a step further.
We’re still waiting for a truly compact, domestic wind turbine in the manner of the Philippe Starck Democratic Ecology, but Japanese housing and environmental equipment manufacturer Nikko is promising something that sounds pretty close in 2009 [subscription required]. Expected to hit the market by October, the new wind turbine will measures roughly two meters in diameter and be priced at between $5,600 and $6,700.
Not your usual solar-power lighting devices that can charge in the day and twinkle at night; Sony mixes tradition with high tech craftsmanship, transforms low cost dye-sensitized solar cells into uniquely floral patterns, embedded on the lamp’s lateral shape panels that can generate energy by itself then power another miniature bulb that projects the beam-pattern depicted by the colors of cells on the panels.
In case you don’t think there are enough PMPs out in the world, then here’s another one that might suit your fancy. It’s called the Shiro SQ-S and it actually offers something a little bit different than the norm. In fact, you can charge up this PMP with solar energy.
This PMP doesn’t require a wired charging method in order to get it going. That really places it at an advantage, because how many times have you found yourself out and about, only to have your music player run out of battery? It does take six hours to completely charge the device however, and that’s with “full sun.” Even so, you could always plug it into the USB port of your computer and charge it in 4 hours, instead.
Even so, I could see how if you’re out without any means of charging a device this would come in handy. A full charge makes for up to 38 hours of audio and 10 hours of video playback time. There isn’t a price tag or any availability information just yet, but we’ll keep you posted.
I’ve seen plenty of cell phone cases but not one can take advantage of nature’s resource for cheap power. The Japaneses put solar technology to work; they have transformed an iphone case into an eco-friendly device with an integrated Lithium-ion batteries and solar panel for energy resource.
The LC-1500 is not just a plain iPhone leather case – under sunlight, the built-in Lithium-ion batteries can provide energy resource for charging or put your drained handheld back to work. The battery has capacity of 1500mAhm and weights in 100g; It will take about 13 hours to charge your iPhone with its solar system, or 3 hours via the conventional built-in USB charging port.
I don’t know about you, but I love solar-powered chargers and gadgets of that nature. So when I saw the iPower SX from Battech, I knew it was something I’d have to share with you all. Even though there are numerous solar-powered chargers on the market already, I don’t think we could ever really have enough.
Silicon is in every piece of electronic equipment we own. However, when Harvard physicist Eric Mazur discovered black silicon, the substance was found to be a whole lot more sensitive to light, which could spell serious improvements in consumer electronics and more.
Black silicon was discovered in the late 1990’s after a laser was shone on a silicon wafer that had sulfur hexafluoride on it. Once examined under an electron microscope, the wafer, which appeared black, had microscopic spikes all over it. This later proved to show an increased sensitivity to light. In fact, a “100 to 500 times increase in sensitivity to light compared to conventional silicon detectors,” was found and the technology is now being implemented in night vision systems.
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