Most gadgets that we report on require some sort of power source. One of the most techie and ecologically friendly ways of powering gadgets is via the power of the sun. This section of Coolest Gadgets is dedicated to gadgets that get their power from the sun’s rays, be it via solar panels or just simple heating.
There is one problem that plagues all mobile technology: battery life. Sure, some gadgets will last through many hours of use, but with most you are limited to a significantly shorter time. This is why I’m happy to see companies such as Iqua implementing alternative energy sources into their mobile products. Take their Sun Bluetooth headset for example.
Fujitsu Siemens is currently working on a prototype 22″ LCD monitor that comes with built-in solar panels working in tandem with a capacitor and special relay to reduce power usage when on standby. Heck, theoretically it ought to be able to operate in zero consumption mode for five days on standby. When active, this prototype LCD monitor takes up a mere 0.6-0.9W of electricity. Fujitsu Siemens is hoping that this new green technology will be used in TVs too, as it prepares to roll out an improved, consumer-ready version of its prototype sometime in Q2 2008.
Source: Crave
It draws absolutely no power while in standby mode. That’s the design of a line of Fujitsu Siemens computer monitors . The prototype 22 inch monitor was recently showcased at a press event in Augsburg, Germany, and utilizes a special relay designed to cut off the main power when the monitor’s video stream goes into standby mode, the electricity is then channeled into the monitor’s built in capacitors, which charge and store the energy to immediately turn back on when the computer goes active again.
With Japan being an earthquake-prone country, it is not surprising to see disaster response kits being made available to every citizen in order to minimize the loss of life when tragedy strikes. Unfortunately, most earthquakes are often followed by a failed power supply, which is why the Fuji Power Rescue portable solar generator is powered by a flexible solar panel that can be rolled into a tube for easy transportation and safekeeping. As long as there is sunlight, you can be sure your gizmos won’t run out of juice even when there is no power supply in the vicinity.
Source: Digital World Tokyo
I had a dream the other night about robots taking over the world. Perhaps it’s because I watched the Terminator right before bed again, but it was a scary concept.
What isn’t scary is the OWI Frightened Grasshopper kit from OWI’s Jr. Science Series. These tiny little robots are constructed to run on solar power and are suitable for children eight years of age and older. It’s a great little gadget for the budding science freak in your household.
How many times have you actually went off for a long holiday, snapping gigabytes after gigabytes’ worth of photos only to return home without having a clear memory of exactly where they were taken? With the QSTARZ Super 99 Bluetooth Solar GPS Travel Recorder, you don’t have to worry about suffering from memory lapses ever again, since this dual-powered GPS travel recorder is capable of logging up to 200,000 waypoints on each journey courtesy of the support for Geo Tagging of photos along with the ability to share your current location with friends over Google Earth. You can choose to have it operate using its integrated battery which can be recharged via a nearby power outlet, or using the integrated solar panel instead which is capable of powering the device for up to 48 hours at a stretch after achieving a full charge via natural sunlight.
Imagine it. It’s election season. You’re flying across the country to visit family or on the red eye to catch that all important business meeting. You look out the window and 35,000 feet below you see “Vote for me this November.” A little futher down, you notice a stream of moving pictures for a new movie and then “Coming soon to a theater near you …” all up in lights. Or, it’s late December and you’re flying home in time for the Holidays. Suddenly, you catch a video of that ripe, jolly old elf on his sleigh with reindeer, and snow capped text stating “Santa, Land Here!” What gives?
Ever gone off to the woods for a week and forgotten to bring a shaver with you? Chances are when you’re back home, your wife will probably think there’s a grizzly bear knocking on her front door, wearing her husband’s clothes instead. The Sol Shaver Solar Razor is the tool for you then, since it can be powered by the sun while offering a traditional electric razor cut. If you’re interested in picking one up, be prepared to fork out $61 for it.
Source: Sci Fi Tech
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