Throw away your plugs. Microsoft Research has developed a screen powered by ambient light alone.
The prototype âenergy-neutralâ display can run on office lighting and acts like a miniature e-reader. âWhat we imagine is that our technology could be used just like a Post-It note,â says team member . âBut it could be reused, synchronised with notes in other locations, and could be programmed to show up-to-date information, like the weather or the latest bus timetable when youâre due to leave the office.â
By harvesting energy from its surroundings using photovoltaic cells, the device will never need to be charged.
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âUnlike a computer screen or TV, the e-ink screen doesnât require any power to maintain the image,â says Grosse-Puppendahl. âThat means that we only need a small amount of energy, which we can collect from the ambient light in an office using a solar panel on the back.â
The device is still in the research stage, so itâs unclear whether it would be economically viable as a consumer product or have environmental benefits.
While this is the first time that ambient light alone has been used to power a screen, there have been attempts to use other forms of ambient energy. Last year, a group from the University of Washington proposed using the energy in a Wi-Fi signal to power devices. The technology was able to convert the radio wave energy sent from a standard router into electricity, which then powered temperature sensors and low-resolution cameras.
âSome of the most important applications for this technology are different types of sensors,â says Vijay Raghunathan from Purdue University. When sensors are placed in an office or elsewhere, their batteries often have to be changed. âHaving an energy neutral sensor could save a lot of money.â
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