The “power” tie is so 1990’s. What we need to bring us into the 21st century is a “power” suit. Thanks to the fine folks at Georgia Tech we now may just be a few years away from the development of a fabric that can harvest biomechanical energy.
Every time you move an arm or a leg or even lift a finger you are releasing energy. Researchers at Georgia Tech are now experimenting with how to weave nanowires directly into flexible fabrics which could then convert the energy you release and channel it back to more productive uses—such as powering your cellphone or iPod.
Longer term it is even feasible that the technology could be used to power nanoscale devices that stream through your body looking for cancer cells. The obvious advantage of this technology is that it reduces and, quite possibly, eliminates the need for batteries.
P.S. To all of the attendees of my keynote presentation at the First Annual Technology Conference in Atlanta this past Tuesday, here are links to the two articles on the future of Atlanta and Georgia Tech that I promised. Also, below is the video of a technology that may help the region better recycle waste water:
