Wireless Charging (9)

No Wires Required

Inductive charging, or more commonly known as wireless charging, has actually been around for over a century. The only problem was, the technology wasn't efficient enough to be reasonably considered as a method of charging. Many electric toothbrushes have had small inductive chargers in their base for years because, when not in use, the toothbrush stays in one place allowing the device to charge slowly. Phones and other electronic gadgets are always on the move with us, and wouldn't have the time to charge. Recent innovations to this technology have allowed for much faster and more efficient charging capabilities.

How it Works

Contrary to popular belief, there is no magic in the air at play here. An inductive charger is essentially a very flat bar magnet with loops upon loops of coiled wires around it. When an electric current passes through the wire, it creates an electromagnetic field that is capable of transferring a voltage to something nearby (like your phone). The strength of the voltage is directly related to the number of coils as well as the distance of the device to the charging area. 

An inductive charger "under the hood"

Additionally, the charger won't "waste" juice on something that is incapable of receiving a charge (such as a quarter). Thanks to tiny receivers in our devices, the charger can communicate with them. It will send and receive data to figure out if the nearby device is in need and capable of receiving charge. When fully charged, the device will communicate to the charger that it is finished and to stop sending voltage.

For a more in depth rundown on how inductive charging works, click this link.

Out With the Old, in With the New?

Even though wireless charging looks and functions like real magic, is it good enough to fully replace traditional charging methods? In my opinion, no. At least not yet. Inductive charging is still slower and more expensive than wired charging. The technology has gotten a lot more efficient over the years so it is definitely a possibility. Right now, I am seeing wireless charging being marketed from companies like Apple as a luxury feature. The newer phones are being manufactured with the technology, but aren't sold with the charging pads. 

One of the features I hoped to see with wireless charging was fully universal compatibility. Meaning, I can charge any device with any charger. This has clear benefits over wired charging, which relies on having compatible charge accessories (like Apple's lightning cable or a micro USB). Unfortunately, and this is speculation, but it seems this will not be the case. Using those receivers inside our devices I mentioned earlier, companies can "brand" their accessories to only allow communication to and from authorized devices. To me, this is a big letdown because greed is getting in the way of a distinct technological advantage.

Look on the bright side though. At least we won't have to deal a heaping mass of tangled wires anymore.