Charge Your Mobiles by Walking!

Charge Your Mobiles by Walking!

The most novel technology of charging mobiles and other devices!

Mindsbuilding tries to build the knowledge of the readers with latest technology news though in a very small and limited base.

One of the challenges in using mobiles and tablet PCs is maintaining the battery charge. There are few ways to charge without plug into electric board and recently devices were introduced with solar charging devices.

There is another charging method has very recently evolved is called SolePower’s. SolePower’s aims at generating kinetic power using the energy produced when we walk or run and of course from every step. Have you heard about hand-crank flashlights? The same technology is used with modifications suitable for the purpose.

This is shoe insert which includes slides with waterproof mechanism fit into a shoe. It gets energy built-in in every step we make. Simply, each step the wearer makes and power generated by kinetic energy. There is battery strapped with the ankle included and the kinetic power is stored in it. However the whole system is fitted into only one sole and other shoe is fitted with dummy one to match the weight of the other.

Well, once the battery is completely charged we have to remove it from there and connect it to a regular 5V USB port on a tablet or smartphone. This is how the smartphone is charged with SolePower’s battery.    

The package available in U.S includes 2 water proof inserts for size 8 (U.S. size) and with a battery pack with ankle bracelet or battery pack with shoelace clip and micro USB ports. This technology shouldn’t be confused with piezoelectric technology but it is a much cost effective and more power productive alternate for that.

The company said in its release that this device generates enough power to fully charge an iPhone when wearer walks between 2.5 to 5 miles (not appreciable variation) and it can bear the weight limit up to 350 lbs. However, the runners would not produce much energy as walkers do because it uses the heel’s kinetics because runners are not using heels much while running fast.   

SolePower has more than $53,000 against its target of $50,000. It has assured that it will start shipping to the pledgers by the end of 2014 in U.S. only.

Mindsbuilding estimates this device is not a very much useful in developing countries like India not because of the cost and it may be reduced but it involves complications of carrying the shoes wherever we go with additional battery and storage problem etc. It uses three steps charging that is insole device-charge controller-device not through battery. How many of us like to carry this complicated system just for charging and we may like to invest in an extra battery, charge both the batteries full and carrying is an easy way. Even a less complicated solar power charging devices didn’t get much attention in India.

Army

This could be very useful one for Military and Police forces because of they always in the field for days together.

Since it is a new technology mindsbuilding likes to share this with its readers to update on technology. The knowledge never is a waste of time!