Gadgets

Wireless charging has come along in leaps and bounds over the past few years, but whilst the ability to power up a device from a short distance away is somewhat useful, it's still not convenient enough to convince most consumers that USB cables are redundant in this respect. Sure, wire-free charging seems an inevitable part of our digital future, but there's also a lingering feeling that there's much work to be done until it becomes a necessity, and several groups are looking to push the boundaries and bring these visions to reality. One system, which uses ultrasound to power devices that may, for example, be roaming on the other side of a room, is a prime example, and after years of development, looks a very exciting inroad.

As with the idea of packing a camera into a mobile device all those years ago, wireless charging facilities have been met with the usual dose of skepticism. But while they mightn't yet be viewed as a necessity, more and more consumers are on the lookout for this feature, and with technologies now advancing, it may well be that soon, we'll all be ditching those darned wires. Inductive, predominately Qi-based charging solutions have made real headway in the market, but given how inductive charging - by its very nature - requires the device to be in contact with the charging mat, it's not exactly ideal. It's for this reason that most are happy to stick with cables, but fairly soon, this could change, with new inroads being made that could allow a device to be powered up from up to two inches away.