An article titled "Move Your Body, Power Your Phone" was published on February 26th in the New York Times. The article outlines the theory of harvesting the movement of the human body, and using that movement to power small electrical devices like our phones or music devices. Piezoelectric crystals printed onto flexible, biocompatible rubberlike material, developed by Michael C. McAlpine of Princeton, produce electricity when flexed and moved.
Theoretically, these devices could first be implanted in shoes, using the power of our steps to run our cellphones. The article goes on to mention the goal of "make[ing] a flexible power generator that could be implanted in the chest". However, the designs for these devices are only in the prototype stages.
But why stop with the human body? Ideas and basic power cell models have been put forth that can use human foot traffic in cities to produce electricity. Piezoelectric crystals embedded in heavily used roadways or pedestrian areas could potentially save money and non-renewable energy sources. With the development of these crystals, anything moving now has the ability to grant us energy. The crystals could be implanted in our bodies, the bodies of our animals, earthquake rich zones, and maybe even the growth or shrinkage of mountains.
Personally, I'm wary of new technology. There might be unanticipated side effects.
ReplyDeleteWhile this technology is expensive and new and trendy, I won't touch it.
If it ever gets to the point where you get a free power crystal every time you buy a cell phone, I'll consider using it.