Soon, your refrigerator will wirelessly charge your smartphones

Wireless charging is not new to us. Neither has the technology been here for a long time. The new wireless charging technology has been around for almost two years with a few smartphones, wearables and tablets already featuring the option.

However, wireless charging, for now, has a huge limitation—the device needs to be as close as an inch to the charger, for it to gain complete power and charge the internal batteries.

Energous is a firm working hard to break that limitation and introduce wireless charging to as maximum distance as they can go. As of now, they have broken the barrier of 15 feet. What this means is that they have developed a new technology, which can charge multiple devices even at distances of 15 feet.

According to an article on Engadget, Haier, a consumer electronics tech giant, has signed up a deal with Energous. Energous’s WattUP technology has already seen charging devices at 15 feet. Haier is out to create the next-generation refrigerators, microwave ovens and washing machines, which will incorporate the technology and help people charge their devices while they are waiting for their food to be reheated, while dining or while washing their clothes.

The product is at a very early stage at this moment, but will surely see light of day soon. However, for now, there are a few questions that are still floating around before the technology is put into practice. These include power wastage, radiation effects on human health and device battery life due to continuous charging.

So imagine if this technology passes all tests and is finally put into practice? You could be recharging your smartphone without your stupid charger or cable. In office, at home, while driving, in the aircraft, while on a train or even while waiting for a bus.

If the technology can extend its distance even further, there could be a possibility of the electricity company beaming out electricity to your house rather than through wires. This could also be a great boon to electric cars and buses.