Swiss company École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne is currently developing a nanotech battery that could possibly boost the performance and overall capacity of today’s standard batteries.
For the tech industry this means that better hardware can be placed on mobile phones. Processors running at well over 3GHz are common for desktop computers, but on mobile devices, balancing power and energy is difficult as higher speeds tends to use up more energy. And pushing batteries past higher capacities than the commonly found 1800mAh would make them larger –which would be counterproductive as bulky batteries would not make for slim devices. It goes round and round, and since processing power and phone size cannot be pushed further at the current state, it is the battery that needs to be improved.
Another major factor in this new nanotech battery is that it is energy efficient –able to harness what is usually wasted energy and is able to provide the world with the conceptually desired, yet often deemed impossible zero watt functionality.
In other news, London is trying out WiFi access for Tube passengers. Anyone heading over to Charing Cross will notice that their mobile devices will now be able to pick up a WiFi signal when within the underground station. This is being done as part of a six month testing and trial period that is part of a much larger project to bring the majority of London online. The tube has long been a major dead spot for many smart phone users who are unable to access the internet when taking the underground ride.
The provisions for wireless internet access will be tested heavily and stressed to the limits as the city prepares for the upcoming 2012 Olympics. So far, only Charing Cross will be given web access, but it is also possible that other stations will be getting similar programs as the months go by.
Tags: batteries, London-2012, nanotech-battery, WiFi