12th
#CES #CES2012 — Desperately Seeking Disruption
A long-standing theme for my coverage at CES is finding potentially disrupting technology. One clue that something new may be emerging is stumbling on the same underlying engineering in completely different sections of the show floor, used for completely distinct markets.
Two years ago I had the opportunity to get a sneak peak at PowerMat, a wireless, inductive charging approach for handheld gadgets. A major impediment to adoption is the relatively high cost—iPhone or BlackBerry Powermat-compatible cases run USD $20-$40 retail not including the required mat charger. Most consumers will contend with a USB cable to save $50.
At the time, PowerMat’s high-end implementation was in home appliances. A toaster or blender, for example, powered through an under-counter wireless source. Still it hasn’t reached mass adoption.
Two different areas of the show floor offer inductive charging products, but this year targeted at the electric car market. Nothing gets attention on the show floor like a hot car, and a prototype Tesla roadster charged inductively is getting some second looks. Perhaps a technology seeking its market more than a market seeking a technology.
