Current Wireless Charging Limitations

• Traditional wireless charging uses electromagnetic coils in phone and charging pad
• Requires precise alignment of coils, can't lift phone without interrupting charge
• Author considers current wireless charging "not-so-great" but necessary first step toward revolutionary technology

Radio Frequency Wireless Power (Mother Box 2017)

• Transmitter fires radio frequency waves in all directions
• Devices convert waves back to power without physical contact
• Power degradation issue:
  • 10 watts at close range (fast wireless charging speed)
  • 4 watts at 10 inches away
  • 2 watts at 16 inches away
• Power consumption reference: Phone with screen/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth on needs ~2.5 watts to maintain battery level
• At 16 inches, charging slower than power consumption

Light-Based Wireless Power Technology

• Two-stage process: transmitter scans environment, identifies devices needing charge
• Sends precise invisible infrared light beams (not radio frequencies)
• Key advantages:
  • Close to 100% efficient (energy goes directly to receiver vs. spraying all directions)
  • Light doesn't lose power quickly like radio frequencies
• Current limitations:
  • Requires external receiver clipped to device
  • Needs direct line-of-sight (blocking light stops charging)

Five Reasons for Incredible Potential

1. Battery Elimination Future

• Batteries are bulky, degrade over time, main reason phones become unusable after few years
• Wireless power everywhere (like mobile data currently) enables battery removal
• Devices engineered from ground up without batteries
• New possibilities: truly smart rings, smart contact lenses
• Modern tech looks cool, cables don't - will be viewed like horse-and-carriage travel

2. Transition Timeline and Current Products

• Wi-Charge company products:
  • Tiny Power Park transmitter: 100 milliwatts output (0.1 watts)
  • Need 25 Power Parks to keep one phone at constant battery level
  • Larger products: 750 milliwatts, 2.25 watts available
• Technology advancement needs:
  • Send more power
  • Shrink larger transmitters into smaller form factor

3. Implementation Phases

• Batteries won't disappear in next few years
• Progression:
  • TV remotes powered wirelessly by TVs
  • Light bulbs
  • Smartphones (with built-in receivers but still need batteries initially)
  • Battery sizes shrink over time as wireless power becomes prevalent
• Mesh network solution: Furniture, lamps ship with transmitters for full coverage

4. Apple iPhone Catalyst (2021)

• 2021 iPhone rumored to be first portless iPhone
• Historical precedent: 2016 iPhone 7 headphone jack removal led to:
  • Android manufacturers following suit
  • Explosion in true wireless earbuds market (niche to prolific in 3 years)
• Market dynamics: Created demand, companies worked to serve it
• Portless iPhone could do for wireless power what iPhone 7 did for wireless earphones

5. Economics and Business Models

• Subscription model direction
• Example: T-Mobile acquiring wireless power companies, nationwide rollout
• Package selling mobile signal + power
• Power as currency: shared, traded, generated
• Personal generation: Solar panels on house provide charge to nearby radius, earn from it

Beyond Smartphones: Information Transmission

• Light carries both power and information (fiber optic internet principle)
• Smart infrastructure possibilities:
  • Traffic lights receive info from road cameras
  • Constantly optimize traffic flow
  • Completely cordless VR headsets with infinite power
  • Shared virtual realities through light communication

Future Uncertainty Disclaimer

• Technology paths unpredictable, depends on many factors
• Multiple possible futures, dominant technologies determined by uncontrollable factors