Desks may soon recharge the phone

(Credit: Herman Miller)

If there's one thing everyone agrees on, it's that we all need a better way to charge the multiplying electronic devices that run our lives. One of the more anticipated technologies in this department, for example, has been the "WildCharger" wireless recharging pad. Herman Miller, the office furnishing designer extraordinaire that gave us the "Aeron" chair, has apparently a concept similar to the WildCharger's and plans to use it in future desks.

The company has licensed a system called "eCoupled," which uses a magnetic field that can theoretically charge cell phones, music players, PDAs and other commonly used electronics, according to Reuters. Unlike the overpriced Aeron, which became something of an emblem of dot-com excess in the 1990s, products with this technology may actually be worth the money.

[Orengeman]

Aeron chair

Okay, so the chair is expensive, but I wouldn't say overpriced. When you consider other desk chairs in general and ergonomic chairs in particular, the Aeron chair is pretty reasonably priced. It's also incredibly comfortable and easy to use which is a testament to its continued presence in offices worldwide.

[Orengeman]

Aeron chair

Okay, so the chair is expensive, but I wouldn't say overpriced. When you consider other desk chairs in general and ergonomic chairs in particular, the Aeron chair is pretty reasonably priced. It's also incredibly comfortable and easy to use which is a testament to its continued presence in offices worldwide.

[Orengeman]

Wireless charging

As far as this concept is concerned, I think it sounds really great, but I am curious to see how it actually works. Do you need a dongle for your devices or do you just sit them somewhere? How does the base know the voltage and amperage necessary for your specific device.

[Orengeman]

Wireless charging

As far as this concept is concerned, I think it sounds really great, but I am curious to see how it actually works. Do you need a dongle for your devices or do you just sit them somewhere? How does the base know the voltage and amperage necessary for your specific device.

[ajcoles]

A magnetic field???

I realize that there are few diskettes around to worry about any more but what about when I set my purse on my desk with my ATM cards. I'm not an Electronic Engineer but it seems to me that to have a field strong enough to charge my phone & pod it's not going to be friendly to magnetic storage.

[ajcoles]

A magnetic field???

I realize that there are few diskettes around to worry about any more but what about when I set my purse on my desk with my ATM cards. I'm not an Electronic Engineer but it seems to me that to have a field strong enough to charge my phone & pod it's not going to be friendly to magnetic storage.