By Terry Currier
video of 66 different vendors Computers Gaming Health Power Security Storage Utilities
Advanced Media
www.ritekusa.com
Announce the launch of its solar product line. The new solar products include:
DIY Solar power system, and lightweight solar chargers for mobile electronics.
LED lighting products are to be sold under the “My Eco” brand name.
My Eco LED lighting from Ritek offers users a new double folding arm, desk
light that provides users bright, direct light. Available in five chic colors,
the light has five brightness settings and offers cool clean light that
requires less energy to operate. The double folding arm allows the light to be
easily positioned to the correct height and angle for maximum illumination. The
system includes: power converter (charger, inverter interfaces etc.),
rechargeable battery, Photovoltaic module for DC/AC (110V/220V/60Hz) or DC/DC
output (12V/24V/5V).
Solar Chargers
The S1050 Solar Charger is a compact and easy-to-use charger
for MP3 players, batteries and mobile phones. Solar energy is stored in the
batteries, so charging a MP3 player is possible, even at night. Performance may
vary between MP3 players and with sunlight intensity. It's durable and glass
free so shady conditions or temperature changes will not affect charging.
eCoupled
www.ecoupled.com
eCoupled technology allows eCoupled-enabled power sources and devices to
communicate and transmit power over a short range without wires. Based on the
principle of resonant magnetic induction. Magnetic induction means that
electricity travels via magnetic fields instead of conductive material.
Wireless power has been used however inefficiently in one form or another since
the days of Nicola Tesla in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Most electronics today use a power cord to transport power to the device’s
electronic circuits. From there, a transformer uses magnetic induction to form
an inductive link that transfers power between the internal circuits. eCoupled
technology simply replaces the conductive power cord with another inductive
link.
Just like a transformer, eCoupled technology uses coils to transmit energy. One
coil in the eCoupled power supply generates a magnetic field at a frequency
that will resonate with a second coil in an eCoupled-enabled device. This
resonant magnetic field causes electricity to be generated in a device with the
second coil. One enabled power supply can power several compatible devices.
Through its advanced identification protocol, eCoupled technology adapts its operation
to match the needs of each device it powers by communicating with it in real
time. It assesses and determines not only power needs but also factors in
battery or device age and charging lifecycles. It provides only the necessary
power needed to keep a device operating at peak efficiency.
Flatwire www.flatwireready.com
FlatWire technology is approved for use in commercial and residential wiring
projects. They are currently
selling wiring and interconnect devices for low-voltage lighting, audio/loudspeakers,
voice/data lines, high performance video, voice/data lines Cat 5, and other
low-voltage and signal applications, with all products available online. Future
products: HDMI (third quarter of 2009) and data cables, 120V AC, 15 AMP/14 AWG gauge
wire, remote switching and dimming for low voltage lighting, CAT 6,
second-generation pattern wire, and control wires for Smart Homes, including
security and thermostat applications.
FlatWire Connectors work with existing wiring in new and older structures with
any type of wiring application. Currently they are for indoor use only. They
are working to develop products that can be used for outdoor applications. The
products attach to the wall with FlatWire Ready Spray Adhesive, which is
sprayed to the wall before the wire is attached. The adhesive is tacky enough
to provide 10 to 15 minutes of readjustment time if necessary. The wires range
from 4/1000 of an inch to 16/1000 of an inch, or about as thin as a business card.
Once attached to the wall, the product is painted or wallpapered to become
virtually invisible. 
Idapt
www.idaptweb.com
A single charger for all your portable devices. For your cell phone, for the
PSP, for your MPS player, for your digital camera, for your PDA, for your
blackberry… For all. The interchangeable tips provide endless possibilities.
Medis
www.medistechnologies.com
SQUEEZE IT and the Medis Technologies fuel cell delivers instant power anytime,
anywhere. It is an energy source that
generates its own reliable power without the necessity of finding a wall outlet
or limitations of traditional batteries.
The formula is non toxic, safe to use in variable temperature
conditions, non flammable, odorless, does not produce heat and is
All of the fuel in the Power Pack can be recycled. Each package includes a recycle container for
consumers to use.
The size of a bar of soap, can be used to power a variety of electronic
devices. Once activated, it can deliver20 hours of power which can charge a
phone up to 6 times.
Medis 24/7 Fuel Cell Power Pack - Retail: $25
Medis Xtreme Portable Charger Fuel Cell Power Starter Kit
Designed for smart phones and with near universal compatibility, with 4 watts
of power. Simply squeeze the Pack to
access 20 watt-hours of energy that can charge a smart phone up to 4 times or a
standard phone up to 6 times.
Fuel Cell Power Emergency Kit
Delivers emergency lighting and power when needed most. No batteries to worry
about and no wall outlet required. Activate the Power Pack to access 20
watt-hours of energy that can charge a standard phone up to 6 times or the
included 14-LED flashlight for up to 90 hours.
Ohmetric
www.ohmetric.com
3 IN 1 Power Adapter Wall
Ohmetric
Power charges three devices at the same time. It offers complete cable
management and separates to store flat when traveling. LED lights indicate
which devices are charging
Powermat www.pwrmat.com
Capable of delivering real time, wireless charging for portable electronicdevices including iPods, iPhones, Blackberry and mobile phones, GPS,
handheldgames and even laptop computers, the new product line will be available for
purchase in retail stores in 2009.
It is based on principles of magnetic induction with fast and energy efficient
power delivery. Consumers simply plug in their Powermat and place up to
(depending on model) six different Powermat-enabled devices on the mat to
charge. They will charge at the same rate as if each device were charging with
its own charger.
Powermat’s inductive technology pairs an thin mat with a variety of receivers,
which connect to your favorite electronic devices. Future applications can be
embedded directly into walls, ceilings, tabletops or other surfaces, enhancing
virtually any surface to become an invisible connectivity point for wire-free
energy.
Scratch Input
www.chrisharrison.net/projects/scratchinput/index.html
An acoustic-based input technique that relies on the unique sound produced when
a fingernail is dragged over the surface of a textured material, such as wood,
fabric, or wall paint. They employ a simple sensor that can be easily coupled
with existing surfaces, such as walls and tables, turning them into large,
unpowered and ad hoc finger input surfaces. The sensor is sufficiently small
that it could be incorporated into a mobile device, allowing any suitable
surface on which it rests to be appropriated as a gestural input surface. A
study showed users can perform six Scratch Input gestures at about 90% accuracy
with less than five minutes of training and on wide variety of surfaces.
This Scratch Input technique operates by listening to the sound of “scratching”
(e.g., with a fingernail) that is transmitted through the surface material.
This signal can be used to recognize a vocabulary of gestures carried out by the
user. The sensor is simple and inexpensive, and can be easily incorporated into
mobile devices, enabling them to appropriate whatever solid surface they happen
to be resting on.
WildCharge
www.wildcharge.com
The
WildCharger™ Pad and its companions – WildCharge™ Skins – form a perfect
wire-free power solution. Easy to install, carry and enable, they
allow you to
go “wire-free” out of the box. Once you equip your mobile device with a
WildCharge Skin, you will be able to charge it by placing it on any WildCharger
Pad that is connected to a power source. The pad can simultaneously charge
multiple devices, such as cell phones, MP3 music players or other mobile
devices - as long as they are WildCharge-enabled.
They are talking to several notebook and cell phone manufacturers for the purpose of incorporating the WildCharge Technology onto their units. I loved the idea of not having to bend down to plug or unplug the cord to my notebook. Not to mention not tripping over the cord. See video of CES booth.
They do sell adapter units on their website. For example a charge pad and skin for a BlackBerry Pearl will cost $80.
Stated prices are rounded up to the nearest dollar.
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Winners is a member of the Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG) is an international, platform-independent, nonprofit corporation (incorporated in Washington, DC) devoted to helping user groups throughout the world. Almost 400 user groups are members of APCUG. http://www.apcug.net/ |