As it turns out, just a few days ago Intel showed off its new wireless power transfer gizmo:

So what’s the difference between these odd-looking coils and previous advancements in wireless power?  As Intel’s CTO Justin Rattner put it, “It turns out the human body is not affected by magnetic fields; it is affected by elective fields.  So what we are doing is transmitting energy using the magnetic field not the electric field.”

While this is a very promising advancement and pretty exciting all around, I was slightly disappointed that most of the seminar revolved around applying the technology to supply power to laptops, mobile telephones, or other such devices.  As Rob Enderle of Enderle Group stated, “Initially it eliminates chargers and eventually it eliminates batteries all together.”

Batteries?  We’re talking about a breakthrough as big as wireless power and it will “eventually eliminate”…..batteries!?  And the CTO’s talking about technological transformations he expects by the year 2050.  I’ve got power cords and outlets covering my desktop, surrounding my entertainment center, sprawling over my kitchen and bathroom counters, and oozing out of my wazoo and we’re talking about 42 years before I can merely ditch my cell phone battery?  Here’s to hoping for a modern-day Thomas Edison!