Ikea are set to release furniture which has the ability to wirelessly charge your smartphone and other devices. The Swedish company have incorporated technology created by the specialist company ‘Qi’ into their desks, lamps and tables. These items will all feature built-in charging pads, marked by a small cross, which will charge smartphones and tablets simply by placing them on the pad.
This Qi technology, known as ‘induction charging’, harnesses a small electromagnetic field in order to transfer energy. A small magnetic coil located within the built-in charging pad induces a current in a similar coil within the device and this energy is then used to charge the device’s battery.
While many devices, such as models by Google Nexus, HTC, Samsung and Nokia will already be compatible with Qi technology, two of the most popular devices, the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, do not currently support Qi technology. However, Ikea have stated that they are already looking at developing a range of phone covers which will allow these currently unsupported devices to be compatible with the technology.
Ikea business area manager for lighting and wireless charging, Jeanette Skjelmose, commented that “through research and home visits, we know that people hate cable mess. They worry about not finding the charger and running out of power.” She continued that “our new innovative solutions, which integrate wireless charging into home furnishings, will make life at home simpler.”
Ikea’s head of design, Marcus Engman, added in an interview that “we don’t want to go into electronics; we want to make the home smarter.” The launch of these products is merely an attempt to “bring the surprise back” to the brand.
This furniture is set to hit the shelves in Europe and North America in April of 2015, with a ‘global roll-out’ planned for the future.
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