The Sound Charge may look like an ordinary T-shirt, but it contains some seriously next-level energy tech within. The ingenious invention, borne of the simple observation that people at loud concerts tend to wear T-shirts, contains technology that converts sound waves into electrical energy. A collaboration between global telecom giant Orange and the renewable energy experts at Got Wind, the shirt produces enough electricity to charge a cell phone (perfect) and will debut at the Glastonbury Festival in England this weekend. The Orange news release explains:
The eco charging device uses an existing technology in a revolutionary way; by reversing the use of a product called Piezoelectric film, allowing people to charge their mobile phones whilst enjoying their favourite headline act at Glastonbury.
Usually found in modern hi-fi speakers, an A4 panel of the modified film is housed inside a t-shirt which then acts much like an oversized microphone by ‘absorbing’ invisible sound pressure waves. These sound waves are converted via the compression of interlaced quartz crystals into an electrical charge, which is fed into an integral reservoir battery that in turn charges most makes and models of mobile phone. As the ‘device’ is worn, a steady charge is able to be dispensed into the phone via a simple interchangeable lead which fits most handsets.
(via Dangerous Minds)